--- title: "Construction Project Engineer Salary Nashville, TN 2026 | Amundson" description: "Nashville Project Engineer salaries: $90K-$130K base + bonuses. Real 2026 data from 1,200+ construction placements. See what top performers earn." url: https://amundsongroup.com/construction-project-engineer-salary-nashville/ published: 2026-05-25 modified: 2026-10-26 publisher: Amundson Group markdown_of: https://amundsongroup.com/construction-project-engineer-salary-nashville/ --- # Construction Project Engineer Salary Nashville, TN 2026 | Amundson Construction Project Engineers in Nashville command a **$90K to $130K base salary range** in 2026, reflecting strong demand across the region’s commercial, civil, and multifamily sectors. When bonuses and per-diem allowances are factored in, total compensation often reaches **10-30% above base**, positioning Nashville competitively within the Southeast construction market. **Hiring for heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, rail, or wastewater work?** Amundson Group is a construction-only recruiter. First qualified resumes in 7 hours. [Send us the role](https://amundsongroup.com/hire-talent/) or call [(832) 558-7982](tel:+18325587982). ## Project Engineer salary range in Nashville: $90K to $130K base The $90K to $130K range captures the typical spread for Project Engineers working across Nashville’s active construction landscape. The lower end ($90K) generally reflects engineers early in their project leadership years or those managing smaller-scale commercial or residential work. The upper boundary ($130K) represents experienced engineers leading major projects, managing larger teams, or specializing in complex civil or industrial work. Several factors compress or expand this range: - **Years of experience:** An engineer with 5-7 years of hands-on field and office time typically sits in the $95K to $110K band; those with 10+ years often reach $115K to $130K or beyond. - **Project scope and complexity:** Leading a $5M to $10M multifamily or commercial development pays differently than managing a smaller renovation or sitework contract. - **Employer size and sector:** Larger firms, especially those in heavy highway or industrial work, often pay at the higher end. Smaller commercial GCs may anchor closer to $90K to $105K. - **Licensures and specializations:** PE licensure, BIM expertise, or specialized certifications (e.g., construction management credentials) can push compensation upward. Beyond base, most construction firms add **10-20% in annual bonuses** tied to project completion, safety metrics, and cost control. Truck allowances ($300 to $800/month) and job-site per-diem further boost total take-home, often adding an additional 5-15% for engineers working outside Nashville proper or on multi-site assignments. ## What drives Project Engineer pay in Nashville’s construction market Nashville’s construction sector has expanded significantly over the past five years, driven by population growth, urban infill development, and infrastructure investment. This competition for talent has lifted Project Engineer salaries above many smaller Southeast markets. The city’s diverse project mix, spanning hospitality, healthcare, multifamily residential, and transportation, creates steady demand and prevents wage compression in any single vertical. Labor availability in Nashville remains tighter than the national average. Experienced Project Engineers who can navigate fast-track schedules, manage subcontractor relationships, and maintain quality on complex urban sites are actively recruited. This scarcity supports the higher end of the range, particularly for engineers with proven track records on high-visibility or technically demanding projects. Cost-of-living adjustments reflected in these figures account for Nashville’s real estate, taxes, and general expenses. While lower than Denver or the West Coast, Nashville costs have climbed faster than the national average, justifying the $90K floor even for entry-level project management roles. ## Project Engineer compensation by experience level - **3-5 years in role:** $77K to $95K - Early project leadership; small to mid-sized projects; some independent decision-making. - **5-10 years in role:** $90K to $110K - Leading significant projects; strong subcontractor and client management; proving cost and schedule control. - **10-15 years in role:** $110K to $130K - Senior project ownership; complex multi-discipline coordination; mentoring junior engineers; heavy client interface. - **15+ years in role:** $130K to $156K+ - Principal-level or senior management track; large portfolio responsibility; potential for equity or profit-sharing; strategic business development. Note: These ranges assume full-time, W-2 employment with established GCs or construction management firms. Seasonal or contract roles may fall below these bands; consulting or senior PM/Operations roles may exceed them. ## Benefits + total comp beyond base Most mid-sized and larger Nashville-area construction firms offer competitive benefits packages. Standard elements include **401(k) matching (3-6% of base)**, health/dental/vision coverage, and short-term disability. Many add **company vehicles or truck allowances ($400 to $800/month)** for site-based roles, recognizing the need for daily field mobility. Bonus structures typically run **10-20% of base salary annually**, tied to project milestones, safety performance, budget variance, and schedule adherence. Firms in the energy, heavy civil, or industrial sectors often skew toward the higher end (15-20%), reflecting the scale and risk profile of those projects. Additional perks may include professional development reimbursement, tool allowances, and safety incentive programs. On total compensation, a Project Engineer earning $110K base could reasonably expect $125K to $135K in combined salary, bonus, and allowances. ## What Nashville construction companies pay top performers Engineers who consistently deliver on-time, under-budget projects with zero safety incidents, and who build strong client and subcontractor relationships, command premium placement. Amundson Group regularly places top-tier Project Engineers in Nashville at **$130K to $160K+ base**, particularly for leadership roles or specialized verticals (healthcare, industrial, civil infrastructure). Top performers often transition into Senior Project Engineer, Project Manager, or Operations roles that accelerate compensation further. Many firms recognize that retaining a proven engineer costs less than recruiting and training a replacement, creating room for negotiation and performance-based increases above standard ranges. ## See Amundson Group’s full Project Engineer Salary Guide Amundson Group updates its [Salary Guide](https://amundsongroup.com/salary-guide/) quarterly with real placement data from hundreds of construction hires across the US. Our [AI-assisted screening](https://amundsongroup.com/hire-talent/) ensures salary benchmarks reflect current market conditions, not outdated surveys. If you’re hiring Project Engineers in Nashville or exploring opportunities in construction management, connect with our team to discuss competitive positioning and current demand. **Last updated: 2026 Q1** *Related searches: [Construction Assistant Project Manager Salary Nashville TN 2026](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-assistant-project-manager-salary-nashville/) · [Construction Project Engineer Recruiter in Nashville, TN](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-project-engineer-recruiter-nashville/) · [Construction Project Manager Salary in Texas: 2026 Breakdown](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-project-manager-salary-texas-2026/)* More from Amundson Group: [construction recruiters in Nashville](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-recruiters-nashville/) and [construction recruiters in Tennessee](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-recruiters-tennessee-2026/). **Need this hire made? Send us the role.** Amundson Group is a construction-only recruiter based in Houston, placing across the United States: heavy civil, site development, paving, data centers, rail, tunnels, wastewater, and underground utilities. 1,200+ construction placements to date, a 90,000+ professional network, first qualified resumes in 7 hours. Inc. 5000 in 2024 and 2025. Prefer to talk? Call [(832) 558-7982](tel:+18325587982) or use the full form at [amundsongroup.com/hire-talent](https://amundsongroup.com/hire-talent/). Looking for your next role? [See open construction jobs](https://amundsongroup.com/jobs/). --- About Amundson Group: a Houston-headquartered construction recruiting firm placing superintendents, project managers, estimators, foremen and skilled trades with contractors across the United States in heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, rail, tunnels, wastewater and underground utilities. 1,200+ construction placements to date, a network of 90,000+ construction professionals, 250+ companies served, the first qualified resume in about 7 hours and a shortlist in 7 days. Veteran owned, founded in January 2020 by Alex Mowbray, Inc. 5000 honoree in 2024 and 2025, SIA Best Staffing Firms to Work For 2023 and 2024, rated 4.9 on Google. 1336 Brittmoore Rd, Houston, TX 77043. (832) 558-7982. https://amundsongroup.com This page in HTML: https://amundsongroup.com/construction-project-engineer-salary-nashville/. Every page on amundsongroup.com has a Markdown copy at the same URL with .md added. 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