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How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Structural Engineer in Philadelphia? [2025 Data]
Normal Range: $354 - $690
Hiring a structural engineer in Philadelphia, PA costs $499 on average, or between $354 and $690, depending on the exact services you need from a pro.
How we get this data
Cost Insights
Structural engineer costs in Philadelphia, PA, often increase with complex rowhome conditions, where foundation inspections can cost $1,200 to $1,800 due to aging masonry and limited access.
Permit requirements in Philadelphia can add $120 to $1,000 to total project costs, especially for load-bearing wall removals.
Engineer plans for additions or major renovations range $3,000 to $12,000, rising with multi-story designs and older brick structures.
As a historic, higher-cost-of-living East Coast city, homeowners in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, should plan carefully when budgeting for structural work. Structural engineer costs in Philadelphia average $499, with most homeowners spending $354 to $690 depending on project complexity.
Older rowhomes in neighborhoods like Fishtown, Fairmount, and South Philly often require detailed load evaluations, foundation checks, or beam sizing before renovations. Philly’s mix of aging masonry, narrow lots, and varied soil conditions can influence the scope and pricing of inspections. Whether you're planning a remodel or addressing structural concerns, here’s what you can expect to pay when hiring a structural engineer in Philadelphia.
Structural Engineer Cost Factors
Structural engineer cost factors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, depend on fee structure, project complexity, inspection type, and required plans, especially for older rowhomes where identifying signs of structural damage often determines how extensive—and expensive—the evaluation becomes.
Fee Structure
When hiring a structural engineer in your area, 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–$10,000 |
| Per project (%) | 1%–10% |
| Per hour | $127–$150 |
| Per square foot | $3–$10 |
Project Complexity
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 $650, but prices can range from $450 to $1,000, depending on the size and complexity of your home.
Your structural engineer inspection cost will likely reach $1,200 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 | $400–$700 |
| Buying or selling a home | $600–$900 |
| Foundation damage | $600–$1,200 |
| Home remodel | $700–$1,500 |
| Load-bearing walls | $400–$700 |
| New construction | $500–$800 |
| Storm damage | $600–$1,200 |
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 $500 to $3,000, 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–$80,000 |
| Home add-on or bump-out | $3,000–$7,000 |
| Major home renovation | $4,000–$8,000 |
| New construction | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Outbuilding construction | $1,000–$5,000 |
Additional Structural Engineer Costs
Structural engineering fees in Philadelphia can vary based on neighborhood, permitting requirements, and the level of documentation needed for your project. Older masonry rowhomes, dense lot lines, and the city’s active code-enforcement landscape often add time and cost to the engineering process.
Labor
Labor rates for a professional structural engineer inspection in Philadelphia range from $125 to $150 per hour, with higher rates in Center City and neighborhoods with limited parking or access. Homes with tight basements, shared party walls, or aging brickwork may require longer evaluation times, increasing total labor costs.
PE Stamps
In Philadelphia, a PE stamp costs $150 to $400, but fees can rise when engineers must prepare additional calculations for load-bearing wall removals, older masonry structures, or multi-story rowhomes in areas like Passyunk or Manayunk. Projects requiring coordination with the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections often fall at the higher end.
Permits
Philadelphia does require homeowners to obtain building permits for structural work, including beam replacements, major renovations, and wall removals. Permit fees through the Department of Licenses & Inspections range from $120 to $450 for minor structural changes, while large renovations or additions can exceed $1,000, depending on project valuation.
Taxes
Pennsylvania doesn’t charge sales tax on engineering services, so homeowners in Philadelphia don’t pay tax on structural engineer labor or drawings. However, any taxable construction work completed by contractors after the engineer’s evaluation will still be subject to the state’s 6% sales tax plus Philly’s local surtax of 2% for a combined sales tax rate of 8% for taxable goods and services.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary or expected for structural engineers in Philadelphia, as they are licensed professionals providing regulated services. Homeowners who want to show appreciation do so through positive reviews or referrals rather than gratuity, especially for larger projects involving drawings, calculations, or permitting support.
Can a Structural Engineer Add Value to Your Home?
Hiring a structural engineer in Philadelphia doesn’t generate a direct return on investment (ROI) by itself—your ROI comes from the project that follows their work. If you bring in an engineer because you’re planning a home addition in neighborhoods like Fishtown or Chestnut Hill, you could see an ROI of 20% to 50% depending on design and market conditions. But if you’re hiring a structural engineer for a pre-purchase inspection or to evaluate storm-related soil shifting, the financial return is far lower, since the value lies primarily in risk reduction and peace of mind from due diligence.
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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