Civil Engineers vs Financial Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $62,110 more per year than Civil Engineers professionals — that's 62.4% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Civil Engineers$65,920 – $160,990
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
$65,920$160,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Civil Engineers | Financial Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $65,920 | $86,490 | $-20,570 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,790 | $118,360 | $-39,570 |
| Median (50th) | $99,590 | $161,700 | $-62,110 |
| 75th Percentile | $128,290 | $214,210 | $-85,920 |
| 90th Percentile | $160,990 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $107,050 | $180,470 | $-73,420 |
Employment Numbers
Civil Engineers
355,410
employed nationwide
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Civil Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,310 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $126,560 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,250 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $108,010 |
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Civil Engineers or Financial Managers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $62,110 (62.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Civil Engineers?
Civil Engineers salaries range from $65,920 (10th percentile) to $160,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $99,590.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
How many Civil Engineers and Financial Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 355,410 Civil Engineers positions and 818,620 Financial Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Managers to Civil Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Civil Engineers has a median salary of $99,590 while Financial Managers earns $161,700. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS