What the numbers say
Tennessee's median Civil Engineer wage was $97,730 in 2024, just above the US median of $96,198. The gap is narrow, around 1.6%, so the state sits close to the national center rather than at either extreme.
The real story is the spread within Tennessee. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $67,410, while those at the 90th earned $141,710. Top earners made about twice what the lowest-paid tenth made. That kind of range usually reflects differences in project scale, employer type, and years of experience. A municipal drainage engineer and a senior infrastructure project lead doing federal highway work can both carry the same job title.
The average wage of $102,150 runs about $4,400 above the median. A smaller group of higher-paid engineers pulls the average up, which means most of the workforce sits closer to that $97,730 figure than the average alone would suggest.
Tennessee's cost-of-living index sits at 92.5, meaning prices here run roughly 7.5% below the national baseline. After accounting for that, the state's near-parity nominal wage translates to a purchasing-power advantage. A $97,730 paycheck buys more in Knoxville or Chattanooga than the same number would in most other states where Civil Engineers earn a similar wage.
BLS projects Civil Engineer employment to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, a rate BLS classifies as faster than average. Tennessee's ongoing infrastructure investment, including highway expansion and water system upgrades across several metro areas, fits that national trend rather than running against it.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,110 and $120,010, with a median of $97,730.
Civil Engineers in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 44 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $84,100. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 14 | $73,355 |
| Level II — qualified | 14 | $84,100 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $102,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $107,625 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Co. | Project Manager | 3 | $82,306 |
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | US ITER Project Engineer - Technical Staff Member | 2 | $135,075 |
| DPR Construction, A General Partnership | Project Engineer (Civil/Construction) | 2 | $92,716 |
| Bennett & Pless, Inc | Design Engineer 1 | 2 | $78,120 |
| Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | Senior Engineer | 2 | $102,006 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | Research Assistant Professor | 2 | $101,250 |
| TTL, Inc. | Civil Engineer | 2 | $74,402 |
| Gresham Smith | Engineer 1 (Unlicensed) | 2 | $90,000 |
| Flintco, LLC | Assistant Project Manager | 2 | $82,926 |
| Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. | Staff Consultant/Civil Engineer | 2 | $66,500 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- US ITER Project Engineer - Technical Staff Member at UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY)$130,656Oak RidgeDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-472158
- Civil Structural Engineering Specialist at Mesa Associates, Inc.$88,130ChattanoogaDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-447088
- Principal Project Manager-Data Center Construction/Delivery at Oracle America, Inc.$118,227GallatinDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25329-434953
- Senior Project Engineer at Clayco, Inc.$92,000ClarksvilleDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-426380
- Project Engineer at Reflection Window Company, LLC$80,000NashvilleDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-402291
- Rail Bridge Coordinator at HDR Engineering, Inc.$78,000BrentwoodDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-373968
- Ultrasonics Engineer at UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY)$139,494Oak RidgeWage Level IIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-281669
- PROJECT ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATE at Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.$105,998CHATTANOOGAWage Level IIIDecided Aug 22, 2025I-203-25227-246140
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Civil Engineers pay by experience level in Tennessee
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Civil Engineers specialties in Tennessee
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 22 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $82,306.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | DPR Construction, A General Partnership | 9 | $82,306 |
| Senior Engineer | Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | 5 | $93,600 |
| Assistant Project Manager | W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Co. | 5 | $82,306 |
| Civil Engineer | TTL, Inc. | 3 | $70,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 27 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $82,306.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | 21 | $82,306 |
| Education | THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | 2 | $101,250 |
| Technology and software | Oracle America, Inc. | 1 | $118,227 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 1 | $140,000 |
| Manufacturing | AESC US LLC | 1 | $95,000 |
| Government and public sector | City of Memphis | 1 | $63,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 02
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 03
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- 04
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- 05
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- 06
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- 07
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- 08
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Tennessee is $97,730.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Tennessee median is +1.6% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,410 and the 90th-percentile at $141,710, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Civil Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Civil Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.