Civil Engineering Degree in El Paso, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Civil Engineering degree analysis for El Paso, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$63K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in El Paso
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Civil Engineering in El Paso, TX Overview
El Paso is one of Texas's top college towns, with 38 institutions and a student population of 26,186. Public tuition averages $8,886/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Civil Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Structural Analysis and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in El Paso is approximately $63,240.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
38
Public Tuition
$8,886/yr
Private Tuition
$12,800/yr
Room & Board
$13,953/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,714/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
56%
Civil Engineering Salary in El Paso (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for El Paso's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Civil Engineering salary: $68,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.El Paso adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Civil Engineering ROI Calculator for El Paso
Estimate your return on investment for a Civil Engineering degree using local El Paso tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,886 | Private avg: $12,800
El Paso avg aid: $16,714/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,356
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,690
vs HS diploma in El Paso
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in El Paso
$699,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($790,500) minus total education cost ($91,356)
Student Loan Payoff for Civil Engineering in El Paso
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in El Paso for Civil Engineering
University of Texas at El Paso
public
$8,592/yr
$34,368 total
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
public
$9,180/yr
$36,720 total
Western Technical College
private
$12,800/yr
$51,200 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
El Paso Community College
$2,616/yr
Top Employers for Civil Engineering in El Paso
El Paso offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Civil Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key El Paso Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Civil Engineering Job Titles
Civil Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$78K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$82K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$71K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$73K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$69K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
Arlington, TX
$64K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$56K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$58K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in El Paso
Petroleum Engineering
$47K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$74K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Civil Engineering Degree in El Paso — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Civil Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in El Paso.