Structural Engineer Salary in Elizabeth, NJ — 2026
Structural Engineer salary data for Elizabeth, NJ — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Structural Engineer salary in Elizabeth, NJ is $107,330 per year ($8,944/month, $51.60/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Civil Engineers (the closest BLS occupation to Structural Engineer) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, which covers Elizabeth. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 110) would have estimated $110,924; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Structural Engineer Take-Home Pay in Elizabeth
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $107,330 |
| Federal Tax | -$14,783 |
| State Tax (4.4% eff.) | -$4,711 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$8,211 |
| Annual Take-Home | $79,626 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $6,635 |
Living Cost Comparison
Structural Engineer Requirements
Key Skills
Elizabeth Job Market Overview
Elizabeth, New Jersey has a population of 137,298 and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. The top industries are Transportation, Manufacturing, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.0%, and the average commute time is 32minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Structural Engineer Salary in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Structural Engineer in Elizabeth
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Structural Engineer in Elizabeth, NJ, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $74,900 | $36/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $91,115 | $44/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $107,330 | $52/hr | Mid-career, 2-5 years |
| 75th | $143,200 | $69/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $181,200 | $87/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Elizabeth's Transportation sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 13.0% salary growth for Structural Engineers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Elizabeth estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Structural Engineer can expect a 11.4% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Elizabeth. Negotiation, certifications (PE License, SE License), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Elizabeth vs National Average
The national median Structural Engineer salary is $100,840 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Civil Engineers). In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro, the BLS median of $107,330 is 6.4% above the national figure. Elizabeth's cost of living index is 110 (higher than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Structural Engineers, this means: rent typically consumes 21.1% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Elizabeth costs about 4.5× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Elizabeth.
Industry Context: Transportation in Elizabeth
Elizabeth's economy is anchored by Transportation, Manufacturing, Healthcare, with 137,298 residents and an unemployment rate of 4.5% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Structural Engineers can differ by sector, so compare Transportation employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.0%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Structural Engineer roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Structural Engineer salaries in Elizabeth, NJ:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Elizabeth-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($110,924 modeled) using the Elizabeth index of 110 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), NJ 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 10.8%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Elizabeth QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Elizabeth figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Structural Engineer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Transportation vs others in Elizabeth), specific skill set (SAP2000, ETABS, Seismic Design), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Structural Engineer salary in Elizabeth, NJ?
How much does a Structural Engineer take home in Elizabeth after taxes?
Is Elizabeth a good city for Structural Engineers?
What skills are needed for a Structural Engineer in Elizabeth?
How does Structural Engineer salary in Elizabeth compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Structural Engineer salary in Elizabeth, NJ?
The median Structural Engineer salary in Elizabeth, NJ is $107,330 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $74,900 and the senior estimate of $143,200 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Structural Engineer take home in Elizabeth after taxes?
A Structural Engineer earning the median salary of $107,330 in Elizabeth, NJ takes home approximately $79,626 per year ($6,635/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 25.8%.
Is Elizabeth a good city for Structural Engineers?
Elizabeth, NJ has a cost of living index of 110 (above national average). Structural Engineers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.5% and top industries include Transportation, Manufacturing, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Structural Engineer in Elizabeth?
Key skills for Structural Engineers include SAP2000, ETABS, Seismic Design, Steel Design, Concrete Design. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include PE License, SE License, FE Exam.
How does Structural Engineer salary in Elizabeth compare to the national average?
The national median for Civil Engineers is $100,840 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro, the BLS median is $107,330, which is 6.4% higher than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 110) would have estimated $110,924.