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Create CVIf you're searching “structural engineer salary US” or asking how much a structural engineer makes in the United States, the answer depends heavily on experience, licensure (PE/SE), industry (construction vs consulting vs infrastructure), and the scale of projects you work on.
Structural engineering is one of the most stable but tiered compensation careers in engineering. Salaries grow steadily, but the biggest jumps come from licensure, project responsibility, and leadership roles.
This guide breaks down real US salary benchmarks, total compensation, and insider recruiter insights into how structural engineer pay is actually determined — and how to maximize your earning potential.
Entry-Level Structural Engineer: $65,000 – $80,000
Mid-Level Structural Engineer: $80,000 – $105,000
Senior Structural Engineer: $105,000 – $140,000
Principal / Lead Structural Engineer: $140,000 – $180,000+
National average base salary: ~$92,000
Median total compensation: ~$100,000 – $120,000
$92,000/year ≈ $7,650/month
$120,000/year ≈ $10,000/month
Structural engineering is typically base-heavy compensation, unlike sales or tech roles.
Base Salary: 85% – 95%
Annual Bonus: 5% – 10%
Profit Sharing (some firms): 5% – 15%
Benefits (401k, healthcare, PTO): $15K – $25K value
Salary: $65,000 – $80,000
Typically working under senior engineers
Focus on calculations, modeling, and drafting
Recruiter Insight:
At this stage, salary is tied to degree + internship experience, not business impact.
Salary: $80,000 – $105,000
Increasing project ownership
Often pursuing or obtaining PE license
Consulting Engineering Firm:
Base: $95,000
Bonus: $6,000
Total: ~$101,000
Large Infrastructure / EPC Firm:
Base: $115,000
Bonus: $12,000
Total: ~$127,000
Top-Tier Principal Engineer:
Base: $160,000
Profit Share: $40,000
Total: ~$200,000
Key salary driver:
Obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license can increase salary by 10%–20%.
Salary: $105,000 – $140,000
Leading projects and mentoring junior engineers
Responsible for design approvals
What increases pay here:
Project complexity (high-rise, bridges, seismic design)
Client-facing responsibilities
Team leadership
Salary: $140,000 – $180,000+
Strategic role within firm
Responsible for major projects and revenue
Key differentiator:
You are contributing to business development and firm profitability, not just engineering.
Specialization has a major impact on earning potential.
Salary: $80,000 – $130,000
Most common path
Moderate earning ceiling
Salary: $90,000 – $140,000
Public sector projects
Stable demand
Salary: $100,000 – $150,000+
High demand in California and seismic zones
Premium for specialized expertise
Salary: $110,000 – $170,000
Higher pay due to industry margins
Cyclical job market
Salary: $110,000 – $160,000
Investigating structural failures
High billable rates
$75,000 – $120,000
Lower base but stable
Moderate bonuses
$85,000 – $130,000
More project-based bonuses
Exposure to field work
$70,000 – $110,000
Strong benefits and job security
Lower salary ceiling
$110,000 – $170,000
Higher pay but volatile
San Francisco Bay Area: $110,000 – $160,000
New York City: $100,000 – $150,000
Los Angeles: $100,000 – $145,000
Denver: $90,000 – $130,000
Dallas: $85,000 – $125,000
Less common due to project coordination needs
Increasing hybrid opportunities
Pay usually tied to office location
The single biggest salary driver.
PE license = +10% to 20% salary
SE (Structural Engineer license) = premium for advanced roles
Engineers working on:
Skyscrapers
Bridges
Seismic zones
…earn significantly more than those working on smaller residential projects.
Unlike software roles, structural engineers increase salary when they:
Bring in clients
Manage billable hours
Improve project margins
Large firms = structured salary bands
Small firms = more flexibility but lower ceilings
This is non-negotiable for higher earnings.
Without PE: capped growth
With PE: unlocks senior roles
Focus on:
Seismic engineering
Infrastructure projects
Energy sector
Engineering alone has limits.
To earn more:
Manage budgets
Lead teams
Interface with clients
Salary increases:
Internal raise: 3% – 6%
Job switch: 10% – 25%
Employers balance:
Billable rate vs salary
Internal pay equity
Project backlog
Unlike tech, salaries are tied closely to utilization rates and margins.
Weak Example:
“I just want a fair salary based on experience.”
Why this hurts:
You fail to anchor or demonstrate market awareness.
Good Example:
“Based on my PE licensure and experience leading multi-million dollar infrastructure projects, I’m targeting $115K–$130K.”
Why this works:
You tie compensation to business value and credentials.
Highlight billable impact
Emphasize project leadership
Negotiate bonuses or profit sharing
Use competing offers when possible
Graduate Engineer → $65K
Structural Engineer → $85K
Senior Engineer → $120K
Principal Engineer → $160K+
Partner / Owner → $200K+
Without management: ~$140K ceiling
With leadership: $180K+
Ownership/partnership: unlimited upside
Infrastructure investment (US federal funding)
Aging infrastructure requiring upgrades
Demand for resilient and sustainable design
Billing rate constraints
Competition from global engineering talent
Slow salary growth compared to tech
The structural engineer salary in the US is steady, predictable, and highly dependent on licensure, project complexity, and leadership responsibility.
To maximize your earnings:
Obtain your PE (and SE if applicable)
Work on complex, high-value projects
Move into leadership or project management
Position yourself as revenue-generating, not just technical
That’s how structural engineers move from $70K entry-level to $150K+ senior roles — and eventually $200K+ leadership positions.
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