How to Become a Civil Engineer in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median civil engineer salary in Tennessee is $95,910 per year - 5% 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.
How to Become a Civil Engineer in Tennessee
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 Tennessee
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering - while licensing runs through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE (Professional Engineer) license required to approve plans and lead projects. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Civil Engineer Salary in Tennessee
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee entry level (10th percentile) | $65,090 |
| Tennessee 25th-75th percentile | $76,900 - $123,160 |
| Tennessee median | $95,910 |
| Tennessee top earners (90th percentile) | $154,100 |
| U.S. median | $100,840 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 5,790.
The Tennessee Job Market: Civil Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Tennessee | 5,790 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.76 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.75 |
| Mean annual wage in Tennessee | $103,340 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.75, Tennessee employs civil engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage for civil engineers in Tennessee is $95,910 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $100,840.
How to become a civil engineer in Tennessee?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in civil engineering - with licensing through the Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
BLS counts about 5,790 civil engineers employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Civil Engineer in Nearby States
- Civil Engineer in South Carolina
- Civil Engineer in South Dakota
- Civil Engineer in Texas
- Civil Engineer in Utah
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), Tennessee 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) |