How to Become a Civil Engineer in Rhode Island: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median civil engineer salary in Rhode Island is $99,300 per year - 2% below the national median of $100,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering.
Civil Engineer Salary in Rhode Island
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island entry level (10th percentile) | $77,800 |
| Rhode Island 25th-75th percentile | $79,040 - $150,160 |
| Rhode Island median | $99,300 |
| Rhode Island top earners (90th percentile) | $151,020 |
| U.S. median | $100,840 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,270.
The Rhode Island Job Market: Civil Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Rhode Island | 1,270 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 2.53 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.07 |
| Mean annual wage in Rhode Island | $110,560 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.07, Rhode Island’s demand for civil engineers tracks close to the national average.
Requirements in Rhode Island
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering - while licensing runs through Rhode Island’s own boards: PE (Professional Engineer) license required to approve plans and lead projects. Verify current requirements with the Rhode Island licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Civil Engineer.
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 Rhode Island?
The median annual wage for civil engineers in Rhode Island is $99,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $100,840.
How do I become a civil engineer in Rhode Island?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in civil engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE (Professional Engineer) license required to approve plans and lead projects. See the steps below.
How many civil engineers work in Rhode Island?
BLS counts about 1,270 civil engineers employed in Rhode Island (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Civil Engineer in Nearby States
- Civil Engineer in Oregon
- Civil Engineer in Pennsylvania
- Civil Engineer in South Carolina
- Civil Engineer in South Dakota
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), Rhode Island 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) |