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How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Structural Engineer in New York? [2025 Data]
Normal Range: $413 - $750
Structural engineering costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
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Cost Insights
Structural engineer cost in New York, NY, rises with complex DOB-compliant work, often totaling $3,000 to $12,000.
Tight access in NYC brownstones and co-ops increases inspection and drawing time, adding $500 to $1,200.
Foundation concerns in older buildings require specialized evaluations, raising inspection costs by $1,500 to $2,500.
As one of the most complex and high-cost metros in the country, homeowners in New York, NY, should plan carefully when budgeting for structural work. Structural engineer costs in New York average $582, with most homeowners paying between $413 and $750 depending on project scope.
NYC’s dense housing stock, ranging from prewar co-ops and brownstones to high-rise condos, often requires detailed load calculations, DOB-compliant drawings, and assessments for aging foundations or renovation plans. Limited access, strict permitting rules, and older building materials can also influence pricing. Below, explore what you can expect to pay for this project.
Structural Engineer Cost Factors
Structural engineer cost factors in New York, NY, vary based on fee structure, project complexity, inspection type, and required plans—especially in older buildings where limited access and signs of structural damage can increase evaluation time and pricing.
Fee Structure
When hiring a structural engineer in New York, you will pay per project, per hour, or per square foot. If your engineer charges by the project, they may either charge a flat fee or a percentage of the entire renovation cost or the cost to build a house. The type of billing depends on the professional and the exact scope of work requested.
| Price Structure | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Per project (fee) | $3,000–$12,000 |
| Per project (%) | 1%–10% |
| Per hour | $150–$300 |
| Per square foot | $3–$12 |
Complexity of Project
The cost of a structural engineer for a home inspection will also vary based on the complexity of your project. If you’re just building an add-on to your existing home, your engineer will have minimal work to do to ensure the addition is safe.
If you’re instead altering your roof structure, replacing standard beams with more supportive steel I-beams to open up your space, or removing load-bearing walls, your engineer will have more work to do and will charge more accordingly. Custom new construction projects are the most involved and will be the most expensive.
Type of Inspection
When working with a structural engineer, an inspection is the first step—and may also be the only step, depending on why you’re hiring them. A structural engineer charges a flat fee for inspections, including checks during the sale of a home. The cost of a structural report sits at $800, but prices can range from $500 to $1,200, depending on the size and complexity of your home.
Your structural engineer inspection cost will likely reach $1,500 or more if you’re having your professional perform a foundation inspection for foundational cracks, bowing foundation walls, wavy rooflines, or sagging or squeaky floors.
| Type of Inspection | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Beams/joists/trusses | $600–$900 |
| Buying or selling a home | $1,000–$1,300 |
| Foundation damage | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Home remodel | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Load-bearing walls | $700–$1,200 |
| New construction | $900–$1,500 |
| Storm damage | $1,000–$1,600 |
Engineer Plans
Engineer plans are the drawings that detail the construction project, and in the case of new construction, they’re the plans that an architect and builder will work off of to construct your home safely.
The engineer plans themselves, and the process to produce them, will cost you anywhere from $1,200 to $4,000, depending on the scope of the project. The cost can be much higher for more complex, large-scale projects, sometimes reaching 45% of the engineering budget. It’s a good idea to budget an additional $300 to $700 for revisions in case you want to make changes after the first round of drafting. Additional revisions after that point will cost the same amount.
Below, we've included some average pricing for standard drawings you might request from a structural engineer:
| Drawing Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Commercial construction | $10,000–$150,000 |
| Home add-on or bump-out | $4,000–$10,000 |
| Major home renovation | $3,000–$8,000 |
| New construction | $5,000–$20,000 |
| Outbuilding construction | $2,000–$10,000 |
Additional Structural Engineer Costs
Structural engineering expenses in New York, NY, often extend beyond the base inspection or drawings, especially due to the stringent requirements of the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). Local labor rates, PE stamps, permitting rules, and even tipping norms can influence what homeowners ultimately pay.
Labor
Labor for a professional structural engineer inspection in New York, NY, is higher than national averages, with engineers often billing $150 to $300 per hour due to DOB compliance demands, travel across dense boroughs, and older building conditions. These labor charges apply directly to homeowners and increase when site access is limited or multiple visits are required.
PE Stamps
A PE stamp in New York costs $300 to $600, but fees can exceed $1,000 for projects requiring DOB-ready drawings, load calculations, or sealed letters for real estate transactions. These charges always apply to homeowners because stamped documents must be filed under the engineer’s license for code compliance.
Permits
Structural engineering services themselves don’t require permits, but the construction work based on engineered plans does. In New York, homeowners pay $200 to $2,000 or more in DOB permit fees depending on project valuation, scope, and whether filings must go through a Registered Filing Representative or an expedited review.
Taxes
New York State and New York City don't charge sales tax on professional engineering services, so homeowners do not pay tax on inspections, drawings, or PE-stamped documents. However, taxes may apply to related construction labor or materials once the engineering plans move into the building phase.
Tipping
While not required, tipping is common in NYC when engineers or site technicians make unscheduled visits, complete rush assessments, or navigate tight access conditions in co-ops or brownstones. Homeowners may offer $20 to $50 as a courtesy, but this is discretionary and not a formal project cost.
Can a Structural Engineer Add Value to Your Home?
Hiring a structural engineer in New York, NY, doesn’t generate a direct return on investment (ROI), but it ensures the safety and feasibility of whatever project follows. For example, if you bring in an engineer because you’re planning a home addition, you may see a project ROI of 20% to 50% depending on the borough and property type. By contrast, hiring a structural engineer for a pre-purchase inspection or post-storm soil evaluation delivers more peace of mind than financial return, even though the assessment can help you avoid costly future issues.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
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