The national average cost to hire a residential structural engineer is $600. Structural engineering project costs are lower for a home inspectionwhich often ranges between $200-$400or a consultation which can have an hourly rate of $100-$150, or more, depending on your zip code.
A structural engineer can create new construction or home remodel plans that ensure the structural integrity of your building. Structural engineers can also inspect existing plans or buildings to determine structural integrity. Structural integrity means load-bearing walls won't collapse, retaining walls won't crumble, and your home won't suffer from structural issues in the face of extreme weather and is better able to withstand natural disasters. In short, its a smart investment to make when it comes to home safety.
The most common reason for hiring a structural engineer is if you are starting a home improvement project and need an expert to tell you (or your contractor) whether your planned removal or addition of walls and structural features is safe and meets local building code requirements. Homebuyers or sellers may call in a structural engineer to look at plans or conduct a physical inspection to verify structural soundness and rule out potential problems.
A inspection is for identifying problems and may include looking at structural areas of a home, including the foundation, roof, ceilings and walls, porches or other structures attached to the main building, and anything else that might raise concerns about the building's materials and structural integrity. Additional reasons to hire a structural engineer to offer guidance, draw up plans, complete an inspection or even offer project management services include:
Total project hours, scope of work requested, type of structural engineering services needed, and your zip code all impact how a structural engineer charges you.
Hourly rates for a structural engineer can range from $100 to $150 on average, or higher, depending on your location. When it comes to home inspections, Dave Johnson, owner of Moon Engineering in Westminster, Colorado, charges $200 to visit a clients site and inspect the building for structural soundness. If the client needs more than an hour or so of his time, he charges $125 per hour after that.
If you are remodeling a part of your home and need an engineer to draft plans indicating the type and number of beams, columns or other structural supports that must be installed, for example, you should budget $350-$600. Johnson of Moon Engineering says he recently visited a clients home to inspect a wall they were planning to remove and drew up plans for the clients contractor indicating how to reinforce the structure after removing about 10 feet of load-bearing wall. After the $200 site visit fee, Johnson says the plans for that project cost an additional $400.
| Hourly rate | $100-$150+ |
|---|---|
| Home inspections | $200-$400+ |
| Drafting plans | $600+ |
If your home has an attached structure that is in disrepair, such as a porch, deck, staircase or other structure that is 4 or more feet off the ground, it may be a good idea to have a structural engineer take a look before having a contractor or builder reinforce or rebuild the structure. If its simple, you may not need the engineer to draw up plans, but paying $200 or more for an inspection can prevent worries about safety later on. If you need to obtain a building permit for the project to meet building code, you may be required to have a structural engineer sign off on the work and/or inspect the project.
When hiring a structural engineer, look for personal references and read online reviews. In some cases, your general contractor can refer you to a local structural engineer or will be able to call someone they regularly work with who can inspect the structure, make recommendations, and even draw up plans for necessary alterations or reinforcement. Filter your search for pros who have experience with projects similar to your own. Communicate clearly about project scope and how the structural engineer charges for their services. Request a written contract outlining price, scope of work, and relevant details such as timeline. Due to the public safety nature of this work, all 50 states require professional engineers to have state-issued licenses to provide this type of service. As an example, License of Consumer Affairs has an online license lookup to protect consumers. Be sure to research your pro before hiring. See our tips on smart hiring
According to the Department of Labor, structural engineers (under the umbrella of civil engineering) on average earn $84,770 per year and $40.75 per hour. Salaries will vary based on experience, zip code, and if the professional engineer works independently or if they are on staff at a civil engineering, private engineering firm, or architecture firm.