Project Engineer Salary Calculator

The following sections cover every major factor that influences project engineer compensation, from baseline salary ranges to location-specific differences and employer comparisons. Each section is structured as a question to help you find the exact information you need quickly.

1. What Are the Salary Ranges for a Project Engineer?
2. What Is the Entry Level Salary for a Project Engineer?
3. How Much Does a Project Engineer Earn at Entry Level vs Senior Level?
4. Where Are the Best Job Markets for Project Engineers?
5. Which Employers Hire Project Engineers and What Do They Pay?
6. What Job Responsibilities Affect Project Engineer Salary?
7. What Factors Push Project Engineer Salary Higher?
8. What Factors Result in Lower Project Engineer Salary?
9. What Benefits Do Project Engineers Typically Receive?
10. What Skills Influence Project Engineer Salary?
11. How Does Project Engineer Salary Vary by Different States and Cities?

The salary calculator uses $38.25 per hour as the national median hourly rate for project engineers. Under a standard full-time assumption of 40 hours per week worked across 52 weeks, this translates to an annual salary of approximately $79,560. However, the calculator outputs a low/high range rather than a single number because actual compensation varies substantially depending on your inputs.

On the lower end of the spectrum, project engineers in small metro markets with limited experience and a bachelor's degree may see hourly estimates closer to $29–$33 per hour, which corresponds to roughly $60,300–$68,600 annually at full-time hours. At the higher end, experienced project engineers in large metro areas with advanced degrees and specialized expertise can expect ranges of $48–$58 per hour, or approximately $99,800–$120,600 annually.

These ranges shift further when you adjust hours per week. A project engineer working 45 hours per week at the median rate would see weekly estimates climb to approximately $1,721 and annual estimates to roughly $89,500. Part-time project engineers working 25 hours per week at the same rate would see annual estimates around $49,700. The calculator scales all weekly, monthly, and annual outputs directly from the adjusted hourly rate multiplied by your selected hours.

Entry level project engineers are defined in this salary calculator as individuals with limited professional experience — typically zero to two years — and holding a bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field without additional advanced credentials. When you set these parameters in the calculator, the experience and education adjustments reduce the base hourly rate to produce a lower salary range that reflects the market reality for new graduates and early-career professionals.

For an entry level project engineer working full-time at 40 hours per week, the calculator typically estimates an hourly range of approximately $28–$34 per hour. This translates to an annual range of roughly $58,200–$70,700 before taxes. The actual position within that range depends on your selected job market size and state. An entry level project engineer in a large metro market like Houston or Los Angeles will see the higher end of that range, while one in a small market will land closer to the lower boundary.

After-tax estimates for entry level project engineers vary considerably by state. Using the calculator's tax module, a single filer in Texas — which has no state income tax — will retain more of that gross pay than a counterpart in California or New York, where state income taxes take a meaningful portion. Setting a modest 401(k) contribution of 3–5% further reduces take-home estimates but reflects realistic financial planning for someone starting their career.

The salary calculator makes the gap between entry level and senior level project engineers explicit through its experience and education adjustments. When you set the calculator to reflect a senior project engineer — typically someone with 10 or more years of experience and potentially holding a master's degree or Professional Engineer (PE) license — the adjusted hourly rate can reach $50–$60 per hour in large metro areas, producing annual estimates of $104,000–$124,800 at 40 hours per week.

By contrast, the entry level estimates of $28–$34 per hour and $58,200–$70,700 annually represent a substantial starting differential. This means senior project engineers can earn 60–80% more than their entry level counterparts, depending on the combination of inputs selected.

The calculator lets you see exactly where you fall along this progression by adjusting years of experience and education level independently. A project engineer with 5 years of experience but a master's degree may match or exceed someone with 8 years of experience and only a bachelor's degree, illustrating how education level acts as a multiplier alongside tenure.

The strongest job markets for project engineers combine high employer demand, large concentrations of engineering firms and construction activity, and competitive compensation. Large metro areas with active infrastructure, energy, technology, and manufacturing sectors consistently produce the highest salary estimates in the calculator and the deepest pools of open positions.

Houston stands out due to the concentration of energy companies and petrochemical facilities that rely heavily on project engineers. Seattle and Washington, DC command premium rates driven by aerospace, technology, and government contracting sectors. The salary calculator's market size adjustment reflects these dynamics — selecting "large metro" for any of these cities applies the highest geographic multiplier, while mid-sized metros like Raleigh, NC or Indianapolis, IN will produce moderately lower but still competitive estimates.

Project engineers are employed across a wide range of industries including construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, aerospace, and technology infrastructure, with pay varying by employer size, sector, and project complexity.

Employers in the energy and aerospace sectors — such as ExxonMobil and Lockheed Martin — tend to pay at the upper end of the range due to the technical complexity and regulatory oversight involved in their projects. Construction-focused firms like Turner Construction and Hensel Phelps offer competitive but somewhat lower ranges, often offset by strong benefit packages and consistent project pipelines. The salary calculator's hourly base and adjustment factors are calibrated to reflect these industry-level differences when paired with your experience and location inputs.

A project engineer's salary is directly influenced by the scope, complexity, and technical demands of their daily responsibilities. At its core, the role involves coordinating engineering activities across a project's lifecycle — from planning and design through construction or manufacturing to commissioning and handoff. The breadth of these duties determines where a project engineer falls within the salary calculator's output range.

Project engineers who manage submittal reviews, RFI tracking, and schedule coordination on straightforward commercial construction projects perform essential but relatively standardized work, which typically aligns with the mid-range of calculator estimates. Those who take on cost control, change order management, and subcontractor coordination across multiple simultaneous projects assume greater financial accountability, pushing their estimates toward the higher end of the range.

At the senior end of the spectrum, project engineers responsible for engineering design oversight, regulatory compliance documentation, risk assessment, and direct client communication on multimillion-dollar capital projects command the highest salary estimates. In sectors like petrochemical processing or aerospace manufacturing, project engineers may also be responsible for quality assurance protocols, safety compliance with OSHA standards, and integration of multidisciplinary engineering teams — responsibilities that justify premium compensation.

The salary calculator captures this indirectly through the experience and education inputs: higher responsibility levels correlate strongly with more years of experience and advanced credentials, both of which raise the adjusted hourly rate.

Several concrete, measurable factors drive project engineer salary estimates upward in the calculator, and understanding them helps you identify which inputs to adjust for the most accurate result.

Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is one of the most impactful credentials. Project engineers who hold a PE license demonstrate verified technical competence and can stamp engineering documents, making them significantly more valuable to employers. This is captured in the calculator through the education level adjustment, where advanced credentials produce a meaningful uplift over a bachelor's degree alone.

Industry sector matters enormously. Project engineers in oil and gas, aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, and pharmaceutical construction earn materially more than those in residential or light commercial construction. A project engineer at a refinery expansion in Houston operates in a different pay tier than one managing a retail build-out in a small market.

Large metro job markets apply the highest salary adjustment factor in the calculator. Cities with dense concentrations of engineering employers, active infrastructure investment, and high cost of living — such as San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle — push hourly estimates well above the national median.

Advanced degrees in engineering management, systems engineering, or an MBA with a technical focus provide a measurable salary premium. The calculator's education input reflects this directly. Similarly, certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) signal project delivery competence that employers reward with higher offers.

Overtime and extended-hour project assignments also increase total compensation. When you set hours per week above 40 in the calculator, weekly and annual estimates scale proportionally, reflecting the reality that many project engineers on active construction sites or plant turnarounds work 50–60 hour weeks during peak periods.

The salary calculator also reveals the factors that pull project engineer compensation toward the lower end of the estimated range, and recognizing them is important for setting realistic expectations.

Limited experience is the most straightforward factor. With zero to two years in the field, the calculator applies minimal experience-based adjustment, keeping estimates near the entry level floor. This is compounded when paired with only a bachelor's degree and no additional certifications.

Small metro and rural job markets apply the lowest geographic adjustment factor. Project engineers in areas with fewer engineering employers, less construction activity, and lower cost of living — such as small cities in the Midwest or rural Southern states — will see estimates meaningfully below the national median. The calculator's market size selector directly models this reality.

Industry sectors with lower project budgets tend to compress pay. Residential construction, small-scale municipal projects, and maintenance-focused facility engineering roles typically offer lower hourly rates than heavy industrial or energy sector positions.

1099 contractor classification can reduce effective take-home pay even when the gross hourly rate appears competitive. The calculator's after-tax module shows this clearly: 1099 project engineers bear the full burden of self-employment tax (both employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare), which reduces net income compared to a W-2 employee at the same hourly rate.

Part-time hours obviously reduce weekly, monthly, and annual totals. A project engineer working 30 hours per week at $38.25 per hour earns approximately $59,700 annually versus $79,560 at 40 hours — a difference the calculator displays immediately when you adjust the hours input.

Benefits represent a significant portion of total compensation for project engineers and vary substantially based on employment classification. The salary calculator's W-2 versus 1099 toggle is particularly relevant here because benefits availability differs dramatically between these two categories.

W-2 project engineers employed by firms like Bechtel, Turner Construction, or Lockheed Martin typically receive comprehensive benefit packages that include employer-sponsored health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), 401(k) retirement plans with employer matching contributions of 3–6% of salary, paid time off ranging from 15 to 25 days per year depending on tenure, and life and disability insurance. Many large engineering and construction firms also offer tuition reimbursement programs for advanced degrees or professional certifications, relocation assistance for project-based assignments, and annual performance bonuses that can add 5–15% to base compensation.

1099 contract project engineers receive none of these employer-provided benefits. They must independently secure health insurance, fund their own retirement accounts (SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k)), and absorb periods between contracts without paid leave. The salary calculator's after-tax module reflects the 1099 self-employment tax burden, but the full economic gap is even wider when you account for the absence of employer-paid benefits. This is why many experienced project engineers prefer W-2 positions even when offered a slightly higher gross hourly rate as a 1099 contractor.

Additional benefits common in the field include company vehicles or vehicle allowances for project engineers who travel between job sites, per diem payments for remote project assignments, and professional development funding for maintaining PE licensure or earning PMP certification.

The specific skill set a project engineer brings to the table directly influences where their salary falls within the calculator's estimated range. Skills act as implicit multipliers — they are the underlying reason why two project engineers with identical years of experience and education can command different pay rates.

Technical engineering proficiency in a specific discipline — civil, mechanical, electrical, or chemical — forms the foundation. Project engineers with deep expertise in a high-demand discipline like process or structural engineering consistently earn at the higher end. Proficiency with industry-standard software including AutoCAD, Revit, Primavera P6, Procore, and Bluebeam is expected at every level, but advanced capability with tools like ANSYS, ETABS, or plant design systems (PDS/SP3D) commands a premium.

Project scheduling and cost control skills are among the most salary-relevant competencies. Project engineers who can build and maintain CPM schedules, perform earned value analysis, and manage budgets on projects exceeding $50 million are far more valuable than those limited to basic coordination tasks.

Contract administration knowledge — including familiarity with AIA, ConsensusDocs, or FIDIC contract forms — enables project engineers to manage change orders, claims, and disputes effectively. This skill is particularly valued at firms handling large public or federal projects.

Communication and stakeholder management skills enable project engineers to coordinate across owners, designers, subcontractors, and regulatory agencies simultaneously. Those who can lead project meetings, prepare clear technical reports, and resolve conflicts between trades operate at a higher level of responsibility and compensation.

Regulatory and safety compliance knowledge — including OSHA regulations, environmental permitting, and local building codes — is essential for project engineers on construction sites and industrial facilities. Employers pay more for engineers who can ensure compliance without slowing project delivery.

Location is one of the most powerful variables in the Project Engineer salary calculator. State income tax rates, local cost of living, employer density, industry mix, and metro area size all contribute to significant geographic differences in both gross and after-tax estimates. Below, each state and city is examined individually so you can understand how the calculator adjusts for your specific location.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in New York?

New York is one of the highest-paying states for project engineers due to massive infrastructure spending, dense concentrations of engineering firms, and large-scale commercial and public construction across the state. However, New York also imposes substantial state income taxes, which the salary calculator factors into after-tax estimates. Project engineers in upstate markets like Buffalo or Syracuse will see lower gross estimates than those in the New York City metro area, reflecting the calculator's market size adjustment.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in California?

California consistently produces among the highest gross salary estimates for project engineers, driven by enormous construction volumes in technology, transportation, healthcare, and renewable energy sectors. The state's progressive income tax structure is among the steepest in the nation, and the calculator's after-tax module will show a meaningful gap between gross and net pay. Market size matters within California — large metros like Los Angeles and San Francisco produce significantly higher estimates than the Central Valley or rural Northern California.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Florida?

Florida offers project engineers a favorable tax environment with no state income tax, meaning the calculator's after-tax estimates will be noticeably higher relative to gross pay compared to states like New York or California. Rapid population growth, commercial development, and infrastructure investment in the state fuel strong demand. However, base hourly rates tend to be somewhat lower than in the highest-cost coastal markets, partially offsetting the tax advantage.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Texas?

Texas is one of the strongest states for project engineer employment, combining no state income tax with deep demand from the energy, petrochemical, manufacturing, and construction industries. The calculator produces particularly competitive after-tax estimates for Texas-based project engineers. Houston and Dallas anchor the state's engineering job market, with substantial employer density pushing hourly rates above the national median in those metros.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Michigan?

Michigan's project engineer market is closely tied to the automotive and manufacturing sectors, with employers like General Motors, Ford, and their extensive supplier networks providing steady demand. The Detroit metro area commands a large metro salary adjustment in the calculator, while smaller Michigan cities produce more moderate estimates. State income taxes are moderate, resulting in after-tax estimates that fall in the middle range nationally.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Georgia?

Georgia's project engineer market is concentrated heavily in the Atlanta metro area, which has experienced sustained growth in commercial construction, logistics facility development, and film studio infrastructure. The calculator's large metro adjustment applies to Atlanta, lifting estimates above the state average. Georgia's state income tax is moderate, and cost of living outside Atlanta is relatively low, making the after-tax estimates competitive for project engineers willing to work across the metro region.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Ohio?

Ohio provides a steady but generally lower-cost market for project engineers. Major metros like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati offer mid-sized to large metro salary adjustments in the calculator, while the state's manufacturing, healthcare construction, and energy sectors provide consistent employment. Ohio's state income tax is moderate, and cost of living is well below the national average in most areas, meaning after-tax purchasing power can be strong relative to gross pay.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in North Carolina?

North Carolina's growing technology, pharmaceutical, and research sectors — particularly in the Research Triangle area — have increased demand for project engineers. Charlotte also serves as a strong market driven by commercial and financial sector construction. The calculator reflects North Carolina's moderate state income tax and growing metro market sizes, producing competitive estimates especially for project engineers in the Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte areas.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Illinois?

Illinois project engineer compensation is dominated by the Chicago metro area, one of the largest construction and infrastructure markets in the country. The calculator applies its highest market size adjustment for Chicago-based project engineers. Illinois has a flat state income tax rate that the calculator incorporates into after-tax estimates. Outside of Chicago, markets like Springfield or Peoria produce substantially lower estimates reflecting smaller employer density and project volumes.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Maryland?

Maryland benefits from proximity to Washington, DC and the associated federal contracting, defense, and infrastructure markets. Project engineers working for government contractors or on federal facility projects in the Baltimore-Washington corridor see salary estimates well above the national median. Maryland's state income tax is relatively high, which the calculator factors into after-tax outputs, but the concentration of high-budget projects and clearance-required positions supports strong gross hourly rates.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Indiana?

Indiana offers a lower-cost market for project engineers, with the Indianapolis metro area serving as the primary hub. Manufacturing, pharmaceutical (particularly around Eli Lilly operations), and logistics facility construction drive demand. Indiana's state income tax is moderate, and the calculator's mid-sized to large metro adjustment for Indianapolis produces estimates somewhat below the national median but with strong purchasing power relative to local cost of living.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Virginia?

Virginia's project engineer market is significantly influenced by defense contracting, federal government construction, and data center development in Northern Virginia. The calculator produces above-average estimates for the Northern Virginia / DC corridor, reflecting both large metro market size and the premium paid by defense and technology infrastructure employers. Southern and western Virginia produce lower estimates consistent with smaller market sizes and lower demand density.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Connecticut?

Connecticut's project engineer market is shaped by aerospace manufacturing (Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky), pharmaceutical companies, and proximity to the New York City metro area. Hourly rates tend to be above average, and the calculator reflects this through education and experience premiums in a market that values advanced credentials. Connecticut's state income tax is among the higher tiers, which the after-tax module captures, but gross rates remain competitive for engineers in the Hartford and Stamford corridors.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in New Jersey?

New Jersey project engineers benefit from the state's position between the New York City and Philadelphia metro areas, with strong demand from pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical processing, and large-scale commercial construction. The calculator's large metro adjustment applies to most of northern and central New Jersey. State income taxes are among the highest in the country, and the calculator's after-tax module will show a notable reduction from gross pay, though gross rates are correspondingly elevated to remain competitive.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Chicago?

Chicago is one of the top project engineer markets in the country, with massive commercial high-rise construction, transportation infrastructure projects (including O'Hare modernization and CTA expansion), and a deep base of engineering and construction firms. The calculator applies its large metro adjustment, producing hourly estimates of approximately $38–$54 and annual ranges of $79,000–$112,300. After-tax estimates reflect Illinois state income tax.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles commands some of the highest project engineer salaries in the country due to its enormous construction market spanning entertainment, healthcare, transportation (Metro expansion), and commercial sectors. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $41–$58 for experienced project engineers. California's high state income tax reduces after-tax estimates, but gross compensation remains well above the national median.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in New York City (NYC)?

New York City represents the upper tier of project engineer compensation nationally. Mega-projects in transit, commercial real estate, and public infrastructure drive intense demand. The calculator's large metro adjustment, combined with senior-level experience and education inputs, can produce hourly estimates exceeding $55. However, combined New York State and New York City income taxes create one of the largest gaps between gross and after-tax estimates anywhere in the calculator.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Houston?

Houston is arguably the strongest single market for project engineers in the United States, anchored by the energy and petrochemical industries. Employers like ExxonMobil, Shell, Bechtel, and Fluor maintain large project engineering workforces. The calculator produces hourly estimates of $39–$56 with annual ranges of $81,100–$116,500. The absence of state income tax in Texas makes Houston's after-tax estimates exceptionally competitive.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Phoenix?

Phoenix has emerged as a growing market for project engineers, fueled by semiconductor manufacturing expansion (TSMC, Intel), data center construction, and rapid residential and commercial growth. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $35–$49. Arizona's moderate state income tax keeps after-tax estimates relatively favorable, and the market's trajectory suggests continued upward pressure on project engineer compensation.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Atlanta?

Atlanta's project engineer market is driven by logistics and distribution center construction, commercial development, film and entertainment infrastructure, and transit projects. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $36–$51, with annual ranges of $74,900–$106,100. Georgia's moderate state income tax and Atlanta's lower cost of living relative to coastal metros make after-tax purchasing power competitive.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in San Diego?

San Diego's project engineer demand stems from defense and naval contracting (General Dynamics NASSCO, BAE Systems), biotechnology facility construction, and commercial development. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $40–$55, reflecting large metro market size. California state income tax applies, reducing after-tax estimates, but the defense sector's stability and specialized nature support strong gross rates.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Washington, DC?

Washington, DC offers premium compensation for project engineers working on federal construction, government facility modernization, and defense-related infrastructure. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $42–$58 and annual ranges of $87,400–$120,600. DC income tax applies for residents, while project engineers living in Virginia or Maryland suburbs will see their respective state taxes reflected in the calculator's after-tax outputs.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Boston?

Boston's project engineer market benefits from major institutional construction (hospitals, universities), biotechnology and pharmaceutical facility development, and transportation infrastructure projects. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $40–$56. Massachusetts state income tax is applied in the after-tax module. The concentration of high-budget, technically complex projects in the Boston metro supports compensation at the upper end of the Northeast range.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Dallas?

Dallas is a rapidly growing market for project engineers, with demand driven by corporate relocation construction, data centers, transportation infrastructure, and commercial development. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $38–$53 and annual ranges of $79,000–$110,200. Combined with Texas's absence of state income tax, Dallas offers some of the strongest after-tax project engineer earnings in the country.

What Do Project Engineers Earn in Seattle?

Seattle's project engineer compensation reflects the city's booming technology sector (Amazon, Microsoft campus expansions), aerospace manufacturing (Boeing), and dense commercial and residential construction. The calculator produces hourly estimates of approximately $42–$57. Washington State has no state income tax, making Seattle's after-tax estimates among the highest in the calculator for project engineers working in a large metro environment.