How to Become a Civil Engineer in Colorado: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median civil engineer salary in Colorado is $101,420 per year - in line with the national median of $100,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering.
How to Become a Civil Engineer in Colorado
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
ABET accreditation is effectively mandatory - it is required for PE licensure in every state.
2. Pass the FE exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering exam, typically taken at graduation, makes you an Engineer in Training (EIT).
3. Gain 4 years of supervised experience
Work under licensed PEs on design and construction projects.
4. Pass the PE exam
The Principles and Practice of Engineering exam grants the license to seal drawings and lead projects.
5. Specialize
Structural, geotechnical, transportation, or water resources.
Requirements in Colorado
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering - while licensing runs through the Colorado state board of professional engineers: PE (Professional Engineer) license required to approve plans and lead projects. Verify current requirements with the Colorado state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Civil Engineer Salary in Colorado
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado entry level (10th percentile) | $76,810 |
| Colorado 25th-75th percentile | $82,830 - $132,200 |
| Colorado median | $101,420 |
| Colorado top earners (90th percentile) | $165,230 |
| U.S. median | $100,840 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 13,290.
The Colorado Job Market: Civil Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Colorado | 13,290 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 4.62 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.96 |
| Mean annual wage in Colorado | $114,460 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.96, Colorado employs civil engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,240 |
| 25th | $79,930 |
| 50th (median) | $100,840 |
| 75th | $129,680 |
| 90th | $163,220 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 368,900 |
| 2034 projected | 387,500 |
| Percent change | +5.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Colorado?
The median annual wage for civil engineers in Colorado is $101,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), in line with the national median of $100,840.
How to become a civil engineer in Colorado?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in civil engineering - with licensing through the Colorado state board of professional engineers: PE (Professional Engineer) license required to approve plans and lead projects. See the steps on this page.
How many civil engineers work in Colorado?
BLS counts about 13,290 civil engineers employed in Colorado (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Civil Engineer in Nearby States
- Civil Engineer in Arkansas
- Civil Engineer in California
- Civil Engineer in Connecticut
- Civil Engineer in Delaware
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), Colorado and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |