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MODELED MONTHLY SURPLUS

Top 20 cities for Civil Engineers

This ranking uses a modeled monthly surplus, not salary alone. It estimates take-home pay, housing, and local standard expenses so you can compare the same defined measure across cities.

Direct BLS match to SOC 17-2051 Civil Engineers.

What the modeled surplus includes

Modeled 2026 monthly surplus = modeled monthly take-home pay - estimated mortgage - fixed standard expenses ($2,200/month in every metro). It is a comparison model, not your personal cash-after-rent result.

#1

New Orleans, LA

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,246
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$110,946
BEA 2024 RPP
92.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#2

Tulsa, OK

MSA Pop: 1.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,245
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$104,632
BEA 2024 RPP
89.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#3

Pittsburgh, PA

MSA Pop: 2.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,234
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$103,197
BEA 2024 RPP
94.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#4

Fresno, CA

MSA Pop: 1.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,211
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$122,713
BEA 2024 RPP
102.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,887/mo
#5

Memphis, TN

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,210
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$98,502
BEA 2024 RPP
92.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#6

Corpus Christi, TX

MSA Pop: 0.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,101
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$97,539
BEA 2024 RPP
92.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,153/mo
#7

Rochester, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,068
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$101,946
BEA 2024 RPP
97.0
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#8

Louisville, KY

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,041
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$105,216
BEA 2024 RPP
93.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,258/mo
#9

Indianapolis, IN

MSA Pop: 2.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,039
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$104,376
BEA 2024 RPP
95.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#10

Oklahoma City, OK

MSA Pop: 1.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,994
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$101,434
BEA 2024 RPP
90.4
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#11

Houston, TX

MSA Pop: 7.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,977
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$103,474
BEA 2024 RPP
98.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#12

Dayton, OH

MSA Pop: 0.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,973
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$97,652
BEA 2024 RPP
92.7
Est. Mortgage
$917/mo
#13

Lexington, KY

MSA Pop: 0.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,960
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$105,667
BEA 2024 RPP
92.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#14

Omaha, NE

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,953
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$104,570
BEA 2024 RPP
91.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,311/mo
#15

Jacksonville, FL

MSA Pop: 1.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,952
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$104,837
BEA 2024 RPP
99.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,730/mo
#16

Sacramento, CA

MSA Pop: 2.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,951
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$133,404
BEA 2024 RPP
106.7
Est. Mortgage
$2,673/mo
#17

Birmingham, AL

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,934
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$99,855
BEA 2024 RPP
91.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,075/mo
#18

Akron, OH

MSA Pop: 0.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,928
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$96,811
BEA 2024 RPP
93.4
Est. Mortgage
$917/mo
#19

Cleveland, OH

MSA Pop: 2.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,919
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$98,595
BEA 2024 RPP
93.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#20

Buffalo, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,857
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$99,486
BEA 2024 RPP
95.8
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo