
Pennsylvania's structural engineering industry is both diverse and advanced, thanks to its robust construction ecosystem across cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. These metropolitan areas serve as prime hubs for innovation, historic preservation, and large-scale infrastructure projects. The state is home to a wide spectrum of civil and structural engineering firms, including international structural engineering firms, global giants, niche consultants, and small structural engineering firms.
In 2025, Pennsylvania will have over 29,381 professional engineers; the typical structural engineer salary is around $79,000 - $1,00,000 per year. With growing cities, green buildings, and transportation, Pennsylvania is known for its creative and talented structural engineers.
10 Best Structural Engineering Firms in Pennsylvania
Some of the leading and most innovative structural engineering firms in the USA are headquartered in Pennsylvania, especially in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The expertise of these firms stretches from urban construction and restoration of historical sites through upgrading industrial workspaces to designing houses. Here are the top 10
1. Pennoni
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA
- Notable Projects: Philadelphia International Airport Expansion, Delaware River Waterfront Development & University of Pennsylvania Facilities
- Website: pennoni.com
Pennoni is appreciated for its innovative and environmentally friendly design, with its experience in forward-thinking design. Being firmly established in Philadelphia as a multidisciplinary firm, it oversees the construction of airports, waterfront projects, etc. This firm is one of the top structural engineering firms in Pennsylvania because its ideas help increase strength, efficiency, and life span.
2. McCormick Taylor
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Notable Projects: Ohiopyle Multimodal Gateway, Pennsylvania Turnpike Improvements & Urban Redevelopment Initiatives
- Website: mccormicktaylor.com
The company is famous for focusing on transportation, community planning, and environmental design. Because of its many years in business and bigger project portfolio, the firm helps public and private clients complete complex projects fully. By focusing on sustainable development across the state, they have reached the top structural engineering firms in Philadelphia.
3. O'Donnell & Naccarato
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Notable Projects: Façade Restorations of Historic Buildings, Structural Assessments for Skyscrapers & Parking Garage Renovations
- Website: O-n.com
The company focuses on building restoration, adaptive reuse, and facade evaluation. Since working on many famous buildings in Philadelphia for decades, they have developed skills in building and restoring. Since they use cutting-edge approaches and stress safety, they are the first choice for tough construction tasks across Alabama.
4. Stahl Sheaffer Engineering
- Location: State College, PA
- Headquarters: State College, PA
- Notable Projects: Bridge Design and Inspection, Transportation Engineering for PennDOT & Geotechnical Solutions for Infrastructure
- Website: stahlsheaffer.com
Stahl Sheaffer Engineering gives clients comprehensive civil and structural engineering services. Because of its strengths in transportation, bridge inspection, and geotechnical engineering, the firm contributes greatly to Pennsylvania's public works. Municipalities and agencies can depend on them because they cooperate and base their strategies on data.
5. Mulhern+Kulp
- Location: Ambler, PA
- Notable Projects: Multi-Family Residential Complexes, High-Rise Housing Structures & Luxury Home Designs
- Website: Mulhernkulp.com
Mulhern+Kulp is well known across the United States for its specialization in designing homes and smaller commercial structures. They add fine touches to every project, whether it involves a custom home or a large group of homes. Because of their commitment to design, safety, and cost when working on homes, their experts have set a leading standard in residential structural engineering across Pennsylvania.
6. Urban Engineers
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Notable Projects: SEPTA Infrastructure Enhancements, Urban Redevelopment in Philadelphia & Highway and Transit Planning
- Website: urbanengineers.com
Under one roof, Urban Engineers fuses architecture, engineering, and construction management to address urban infrastructure. The firm offers different services that are suited to the needs of big transportation and transit projects. For their creative and modern thinking, Urban Engineers is among the best structural engineering firms in Philadelphia
7. McLaren Engineering Group (A Division of KCI)
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Headquarters: Woodcliff Lake, NJ
- Notable Projects: Marine Engineering Projects, Bridge Rehabilitation & Structural Designs for Stadiums and Theaters
- Website: mgmclaren.com
The firm is distinctive because of its mix of creative ideas and accuracy across the marine, entertainment, and infrastructure sectors. Because of their offices in Philadelphia and a history of remarkable designs, McLaren offers complete structural engineering services that fit every project’s needs. Most of their work is striking, team-oriented, and extremely useful.
8. Barry Isett & Associates
- Location: Allentown, PA
- Headquarters: Allentown, PA
- Notable Projects: School Infrastructure and Athletic Facilities, Public Works Projects & Commercial Real Estate Structures
- Website: barryisett.com
Barry Isett & Associates is a company owned by its employees that works with both the public and private sectors in Pennsylvania. They have experts in structural design, meeting required codes, and managing project tasks. Community development and sustainability are important to them, so they are regarded as a top civil and structural engineering firm in the area.
9. Orbital Engineering
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Notable Projects: Structural Integrity Inspections for Industrial Plants, Facility Risk Assessments & Mechanical and Structural Retrofits
- Website: orbitalengr.com
Orbital Engineering is one of the leading structural engineering firms in Pittsburgh, providing well-rounded services and inspections for companies in heavy industry and manufacturing. Located in the city, they handle the maintenance of old industrial sites and help with new projects by being precise and reliable. They have the expertise and engineering analytics needed to be a trusted adviser in planning infrastructure for the future.
10. Michael Baker International
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Headquarters: Pittsburgh, PA
- Notable Projects: National Infrastructure Programs, Emergency Response and Structural Assessment & Government and Military Facility Design
- Website: mbakerintl.com
Based in Pennsylvania, Michael Baker International is a top firm for infrastructure development and one of the highest paying structural engineering firms in Pennsylvania. For more than 80 years, they have been involved in transportation, defence, and emergency planning. Major national and regional projects are overseen from their Pittsburgh headquarters, helping them keep their top spot as a civil and structural engineering firm.
How Can An Structural Engineer Upskill in their Career?
In today’s fast-evolving AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) industry, traditional methods are no longer enough to stay competitive. Structural engineers aiming for faster career growth, better salaries, and international job opportunities must move beyond CAD and embrace more integrated digital workflows—starting with Building Information Modeling (BIM).
The BIM Advantage:
- Structural with BIM skills are very much in demand, earning over 40% more than the rest.
- Better use of BIM boosts efficiency, makes collaboration far simpler, and helps to achieve superior project results.
How Novatr Helps?
Novatr offers BIM Professional Course for Civil Engineers, a thorough 7-month program intended to make civil and structural engineers BIM experts. This course offers a comprehensive curriculum, guiding participants through the fundamental concepts of information modelling, parametric structure families, documentation, and presentation. It also delves into advanced topics like 3D visualisation, BIM for infrastructure, and 4D and 5D modelling. The course places a strong emphasis on practical skills, addressing key aspects such as cloud collaboration, streamlined BIM workflows, coordination, and clash detection.
Also, you'll get to learn Revit and 12+ BIM Software tools by using industry approaches. Upon course completion, you'll be eligible for certifications from both Autodesk and Novatr, validating your hands-on experience with BIM.
Key USPs:
- Dual Certification from Autodesk and Novatr: This program offers participants two valuable certifications upon completion – one from industry leader Autodesk, validating software proficiency, and another from Novatr, confirming mastery of BIM workflows and concepts, significantly boosting career credibility.
- Comprehensive Software and Workflow Mastery: Over 7 months, the program provides 40+ hours of live learning to master essential BIM workflows and 10+ industry-standard software, including Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, Construction Cloud, Tekla, and Civil 3D, preparing learners for diverse project requirements.
- ISO Verified Project Experience and Career Advancement: Participants gain practical skills through international, ISO 19650 and RIBA-structured capstone projects, building a robust portfolio. The program also offers placement assistance, leading to an average 48% CTC hike and helping secure BIM jobs in globally operating AEC firms.
- Dedicated Mentor Support and Continuous Learning: Learners receive personalized guidance and quick query resolution from global mentors who are part of the top 1% AEC companies. Additionally, they benefit from lifelong access to program content and weekly live sessions for ongoing learning, revision, and practice.
Why Choose Novatr?
- Trusted by Thousands: Join 6,000+ BIM learners from over 45 countries who have successfully graduated from Novatr.
- Expert-Driven Curriculum: Designed through the analysis of 1,000+ job descriptions and rigorously vetted by 200+ global BIM experts.
- Globally Recognized Certifications: Earn certifications from both Autodesk and Novatr, showcasing your verified expertise.
- Proven Career Impact: Learners report an average salary hike of 48% after course completion.
- Loved by BIM Learners: We have a 4.6+ average rating across platforms like Google and Trustpilot.
In a rapidly evolving industry, Novatr stands out as the premier choice for civil engineers looking to master BIM. Enroll today to future-proof your career and unlock unparalleled growth opportunities in the AEC sector.
Conclusion
If you are searching for the best structural engineering firms in Pennsylvania or well-paid engineering careers, there are diverse and highly specialized firms that exist in cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. These companies have completed many projects, such as historical restorations, infrastructure work, building high-rise apartments, and running industrial plants.
To take the next step in your engineering career or project planning, check out Novatr, explore the BIM Professional Course for Civil Engineers, or visit the resource page for career resources and insights into the future of engineering
Was this content helpful to you