Salary guide · Structural engineering
Structural engineering salaries in 2026
Structural engineers at US mid-market firms earn $72,000 to $92,000 base in their first three years, and up to $360,000 at the top as a structural engineering principal or partner. Of the 2,408 open structural engineering jobs in our database, 1,085 list an annual pay range. BLS puts the national median at $100,840 for civil engineers (May 2025).
Roles
6from structural EIT to structural engineering principal or partner
Postings with pay
1,085of 2,408 open structural engineering jobs
BLS national median
$101kCivil engineers, SOC 17-2051, May 2025
The ladder
Pay by role
Base salary for each rung, with what live postings offer underneath. Open a role for its recent postings.
| Role | Chart | Recruiter band | Posted median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural EIT0 to 3 yrs | $72k to $92k | $84k142 postings | |
| Structural engineer (PE)3 to 6 yrs | $92k to $122k | $103k219 postings | |
| Senior structural engineer6 to 10 yrs | $120k to $158k | $128k481 postings | |
| Structural project manager | $135k to $178k | $150k37 postings | |
| Structural senior associate or department lead | $165k to $225k | $164k48 postings | |
| Structural engineering principal or partner | $225k to $360k | $195k30 postings | |
$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k$300k$350k$400k | |||
- What moves it
- Steel, concrete, mass timber, seismic, data center and bridge work. An SE license, or PE licenses in several states, pushes pay to the top of every band.
- Bonus
- Bonus typically adds 5 to 15% for senior roles and up to 25% at principal and partner level.
- Basis
- Base salary at US mid-market AEC firms (40 to 400 people), before bonus, equity and project incentive pay.
BLS benchmark
Structural engineering pay by city
What all employers pay, from the May 2025 federal wage survey. One median covers every level, so read it against the middle of the ladder. BLS counts structural engineers inside civil engineers (SOC 17-2051), so the BLS figures here are the civil ones.
- 10th percentile
- $68,240
- 25th percentile
- $79,930
- Median
- $100,840
- 75th percentile
- $129,680
- 90th percentile
- $163,220
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Annual wages, all employers, before bonus and overtime.
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| United States | $100,840 |
| San Francisco | $130k+29% vs US |
| Seattle | $116k+16% vs US |
| Los Angeles | $109k+8% vs US |
| Boston | $108k+7% vs US |
| New York | $107k+6% vs US |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $105k+4% vs US |
| Denver | $105k+4% vs US |
| Charlotte | $102k+2% vs US |
| Indianapolis | $102k+1% vs US |
| Washington, DC | $102k+1% vs US |
| Raleigh | $101k+1% vs US |
| Houston | $101kSame as US |
| Tampa | $101kSame as US |
| Austin | $100kSame as US |
| Chicago | $100k−1% vs US |
| Columbus | $99k−2% vs US |
| Kansas City | $99k−2% vs US |
| Nashville | $99k−2% vs US |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $97k−4% vs US |
| Phoenix | $90k−10% vs US |
| Atlanta | $88k−13% vs US |
Other ladders
Salaries in other disciplines
Questions
Questions about this pay
How much do structural engineers make in 2026?
Structural engineers at US mid-market firms earn $72,000 to $92,000 base in their first three years, and up to $360,000 at the top as a structural engineering principal or partner. Of the 2,408 open structural engineering jobs in our database, 1,085 list an annual pay range. BLS puts the national median at $100,840 for civil engineers (May 2025).
Which cities pay structural engineers the most?
Of the 21 metros on this page, BLS reports the highest median pay for civil engineers in San Francisco ($130k), Seattle ($116k) and Los Angeles ($109k), and the lowest in Atlanta ($88k). The national median is $100,840. BLS counts structural engineers inside civil engineers (SOC 17-2051), so the BLS figures here are the civil ones.
Does an SE license raise pay?
Yes. An SE license, or PE licenses in several states, pushes pay to the top of every band.
Do these figures include bonus?
No. Base salary at US mid-market AEC firms (40 to 400 people), before bonus, equity and project incentive pay. Bonus typically adds 5 to 15% for senior roles and up to 25% at principal and partner level.
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