Entry-level Civil Engineer salary in Charlotte, NC
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Pineville, Huntersville, Fort Mill, Concord, Great Falls.
Also listed as: Structural Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,122 |
| 25th | $69,060 |
| 50th (median) | $74,217 |
| 75th | $78,575 |
| 90th | $85,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $62,400 | $59,155 | $65,000 | 19 |
| FY2021 | $62,503 | $59,382 | $69,000 | 14 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2023 | $68,677 | $66,061 | $72,388 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $67,400 | $66,061 | $78,125 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $67,561 | $67,122 | $78,750 | 14 |
| FY2026 | $76,425 | $72,810 | $77,526 | 20 |
Cost of living
Charlotte's median entry-level Civil Engineer salary of $74,217 is worth about $76,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Charlotte = 97.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Civil Engineers in the Charlotte, NC area earned a median of $102,370 in May 2025 (3,730 employed). The H-1B median here is $74,217, 28% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| McFarland Building Group | too few | 7 |
| Ames Construction | too few | 2 |
| Boyle Consulting Engineers, PLLC | too few | 2 |
| Geo-Technology Associates | too few | 2 |
| HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas | too few | 2 |
| LandDesign | too few | 2 |
| Terracon Consultants | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $74,217 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $89,294 | 18 |
| Senior · Level III | $105,955 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $72,238 | $74,217 | 34 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $82,056 | $89,294 | 18 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,272 | $105,955 | 15 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.