| Employment | Not published |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $100,720 |
| Median annual wage | $89,250 |
| Median hourly wage | $42.91 |
| 10th percentile | $66,610 |
| 25th percentile | $80,300 |
| 75th percentile | $122,330 |
| 90th percentile | $151,010 |
What this means for owners
The median in Charlottesville, VA runs 8 percent below the Virginia statewide figure of $97,120. That gap helps margins on fixed-fee work, but it also makes your staff easy targets for firms recruiting remotely from higher-paying markets.
The 90th percentile is 2.3 times the 10th ($66,610 to $151,010). Use the 25th to 75th band ($80,300 to $122,330) as the working range for licensed staff, and keep principals and senior PEs near or above the 75th.
The median hourly wage of $42.91 is the starting point for direct labor cost. Run it through the salary and billing rate calculator to see loaded cost and billing rate at your multiplier.
Technicians
Civil engineering technologists and technicians here earn a median of $56,140, with 50 employed. That is the reference point for drafters, CAD technicians and field staff who support your engineers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 17-2051 Civil Engineers and 17-3022 Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians. bls.gov/oes. Figures are base wages and exclude bonuses and benefits. Cells BLS suppresses show as not published.
