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Top 10 Highest-Paying Firms in the USA civil engineeri(2025)

Top 10 Highest-Paying Civil Engineering Firms in the USA (2025)

Highest-Paying Firms, the USA With $1.2 t r i ll i o n * * f ro m t h e I n f r a s t r u c t u re I n v es t m e n t an dJ o b s A c t f u e l in g p ro j ec t s l ik e hi g h - s p ee d r ai l, s ma r t hi g h w a ys, an df l oo d - res i l i e n t c i t i es, d e man df ors ki ll e d e n g in eers ha s n e v er b ee nhi g h er . B u tw hi l e t h e in d u s t ry g ro w s, n o t a ll e m pl oyers p a ye q u a ll y . B y 2025, t o p - t i er f i r m s w i ll o ff er * *$ 150,000+ salaries for mid-career roles, while others lag behind.

The secret? Mega-firms like Bechtel and AECOM are locked in a talent war, leveraging signing bonuses, stock options, and hybrid work to attract experts in AI-driven design and sustainable infrastructure. Meanwhile, niche players like Fluor and Kiewit dominate high-risk, high-reward sectors like nuclear energy and tunneling.

This guide ranks America’s highest-paying civil engineering firms for 2025, backed by salary data, employee reviews, and insider insights. You’ll learn which companies offer the fattest paychecks, which invest in cutting-edge tech like digital twins and LiDAR, and how to position yourself for six-figure roles in a competitive market.

Why Highest-Paying Firms Dominate the 2025 Talent War

The U.S. faces a 138,000-engineer shortage by 2025 (American Society of Civil Engineers), driven by retiring boomers and surging infrastructure needs. To compensate, top firms are hiking salaries and redefining perks:

Bechtel offers $15,000 relocation bonuses for coastal flood defense roles.
Jacobs pays $130,000+ for PMs with BIM expertise.
AECOM guarantees 10% annual raises for engineers on federal projects.

But salary isn’t everything. Employees at highest-paying firms report 30% faster promotions, access to iconic projects (think California High-Speed Rail), and training in futuristic tools like AI-powered AutoCAD.

Top 10 Highest-Paying Civil Engineering Firms in the USA (2025)

1. Bechtel Corporation

Avg. Salary: $125, 000 (mi d - l e v e l) -$ 220,000 (senior PM)
Key Projects: NASA’s Artemis Moon Base, Texas LNG Terminals.
Perks: 20% performance bonuses, AI-driven design toolkits.
Hiring Focus: Nuclear engineers and tunneling experts.

2. AECOM

Avg. Salary: $115, 000-$ 195,000
Key Projects: LA Metro Expansion, NYC Coastal Resilience.
Perks: $10k/year tuition reimbursement, 4-day workweeks for site roles.
Hiring Focus: Climate adaptation specialists and BIM managers.

3. Jacobs Engineering

Avg. Salary: $110, 000-$ 185,000
Key Projects: Pentagon Modernization, Houston Carbon Capture.
Perks: Stock options, VR training for hazardous sites.
Hiring Focus: Water resources engineers and cybersecurity experts.

4. Fluor Corporation

Avg. Salary: $105, 000-$ 180,000
Key Projects: Advanced Nuclear Reactors, EV Battery Plants.
Perks: Profit-sharing (up to 15% of salary), FIFO rotations.
Hiring Focus: Process engineers and modular construction pros.

5. Kiewit Corporation

Avg. Salary: $98, 000-$ 170,000
Key Projects: Gordie Howe Bridge, Solar Farm Mega-Projects.
Perks: $20k signing bonuses, Drone pilot certification sponsorships.
Hiring Focus: Heavy civil engineers and solar infrastructure designers.

6. Black & Veatch

Avg. Salary: $95, 000-$ 165,000
Key Projects: Hydrogen Hubs, Data Center Cooling Systems.
Perks: 100% 401(k) match up to 6%, Python scripting bootcamps.
Hiring Focus: Renewable energy engineers and grid modernization experts.

7. HDR, Inc.

Avg. Salary: $92, 000-$ 160,000
Key Projects: Denver Airport Expansion, Mississippi Levee Upgrades.
Perks: Flexible PTO, LEED AP certification funding.
Hiring Focus: Transportation engineers and smart city planners.

8. Parsons Corporation

Avg. Salary: $90, 000-$ 155,000
Key Projects: Space Force Bases, Hyperloop Prototypes.
Perks: TS/SCI clearance sponsorships, machine learning workshops.
Hiring Focus: Aerospace infrastructure engineers and AI integration leads.

9. Stantec

Avg. Salary: $88, 000-$ 150,000
Key Projects: Miami Sea-Level Rise Mitigation, Chicago O’Hare Redesign.
Perks: Equity grants, GIS mapping tool licenses.
Hiring Focus: Urban resilience engineers and geotechnical specialists.

10. CDM Smith

Avg. Salary: $85, 000-$ 145,000
Key Projects: Boston Wastewater Plants, Disaster Recovery Hubs.
Perks: 6% 401(k) match, digital twin simulation training.
Hiring Focus: Environmental engineers and disaster response planners.

Software Skills That Boost Salaries at Highest-Paying Firms

AutoCAD Civil 3D: Mandatory for AECOM, Jacobs, and HDR.
Revit + Dynamo: BIM automation skills earn $15k premiums at Stantec and Black & Veatch.
Primavera P6: Fluency adds $12 k -$ 20k for PM roles at Fluor and Kiewit.

4 Must-Read Books to Land a Top-Tier Job

“Civil Engineering Reference Manual” by Michael R. Lindeburg
- Why Read?: Ace PE exams required by 90% of highest-paying firms.
- Link
“Project Management for Engineering and Construction” by Garold Oberlender
- Why Read?: Master Fluor and Kiewit’s PM workflows.
- Link
“BIM for Dummies” by Stefan Mordue
- Why Read?: Essential for Jacobs and AECOM’s digital projects.
- Link
“The Lean Builder” by Joe Donarumo
- Why Read?: Optimize site efficiency for Kiewit’s mega-projects.
- Link

How to Get Hired by the Highest-Paying Firms

Target High-Demand Skills:
- AI/ML: Learn tools like AutoDesk Generative Design for Bechtel and Parsons.
- Sustainability: Get LEED AP or ENV SP certifications for AECOM and HDR.
Leverage Regional Demand:
- Texas: Fluor and Jacobs hire for energy transition projects.
- California: AECOM needs engineers for wildfire resilience.
Network Smartly:
- Attend ASCE conferences and Bechtel virtual career fairs.
- Use LinkedIn to connect with hiring managers at CDM Smith and Stantec.

The Verdict: Who Pays Best in 2025?

Mega-Projects + Premium Salaries: Bechtel, AECOM, Jacobs.
Tech-Driven Perks: Fluor, Parsons, Black & Veatch.
Sustainability Leaders: HDR, Stantec.

Ready to Apply?

Update your resume with AutoCAD Civil 3D and BIM expertise.
Research salaries on Payscale
Explore openings on firm websites like Bechtel Careers.

References:

ASCE Infrastructure Report Card: https://infrastructurereportcard.org
Bechtel Project Portfolio: https://www.bechtel.com/projects/
AECOM Salary Insights: https://www.aecom.com/careers/