How to Become a Civil Engineer in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "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."

Q: "How do I become a civil engineer in Tennessee?"

"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."

Q: "How many civil engineers work in Tennessee?"

"BLS counts about 5,790 civil engineers employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Tennessee civil engineers earn a median annual wage of $95,910 ($46.11/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,790 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.9% below the national median of $100,840 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $95,910 ($46.11/hr)
25th percentile: $76,900 per year
75th percentile: $123,160 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $154,100 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $65,090 per year
Workers employed in Tennessee: 5,790
Versus national median: -4.9% below the U.S. median of $100,840
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in Tennessee than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 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.

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.

Requirements in Tennessee

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering - while licensing runs through Tennessee’s own boards: PE (Professional Engineer) license required to approve plans and lead projects. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee 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

Annual Wage by Percentile - Civil Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Civil Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$68,240
25th	$79,930
50th (median)	$100,840
75th	$129,680
90th	$163,220

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Civil Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Civil Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
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 do I become a civil engineer in Tennessee?

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 Tennessee?

BLS counts about 5,790 civil engineers employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Civil Engineer in Nearby States

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)