Civil Engineer Salary in Fayetteville, AR: $85,142 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Fayetteville, AR earns a median $85,142/year (≈ $40.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.4), that paycheck buys what $93,201 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.3% below the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a median annual salary of $85,142, civil engineers in Fayetteville, Arkansas, experience compensation below the national average of $103,492. The salary range varies significantly, from $50,422 at the 10th percentile to as high as $139,146 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from research based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflects the professional landscape for civil engineers in the area. Gaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license can play a crucial role in increasing salary potential. As engineers progress from their Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) designation to earning their PE, the career trajectory can lead to enhanced responsibilities and higher pay, making the time spent in licensure efforts potentially rewarding in this market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,422 | $24.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $69,665 | $33.49 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,142 | $40.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $112,031 | $53.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $139,146 | $66.89 |
Median Salary Position
17.73% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, AR, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $88,724 (2026 est.). At $85,142, the local median is 17.73% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $85,142/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $89,907 | -5.30% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -17.73% less |
Civil Engineers in Fayetteville, AR earn a median of $85,142 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.73% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 5.30% below the Arkansas state average of $89,907.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, AR has a cost-of-living index of 91.353 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $85,142 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $93,201 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.47% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$73,760
2025 BLS Actual
$82,960
2026 Current Est.
$85,142
2019–2027 Growth
+18.5%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $73,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $69,880 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,820 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,180 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,370 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,960 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,142 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,381 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 12.5% from $73,760 (2019) to $82,960 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,381 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,621 (18.47%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $50,422 – $69,665 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $69,665 – $85,142 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,142 – $112,031 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $112,031 – $139,146 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Fayetteville
Fayetteville's job market hosts approximately 450 civil engineers, with a cost-of-living index of 91.353, indicating that salaries can afford a comfortable lifestyle despite being lower than national averages. Major employers like AECOM and Jacobs lead in salary offerings for engineering consulting positions, while construction firms, including Bechtel and Kiewit, also provide competitive compensation packages. The variation in pay is influenced by factors such as the possession of a PE license, engineering specialty, and the type of firm—large firms typically offer higher salaries than mid-tier or smaller companies. Civil engineers can maximize their earning potential by actively pursuing licensure, specializing in in-demand fields, and considering opportunities in robust infrastructure projects driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Understanding these dynamics will help professionals strategically navigate their careers in civil engineer pay in Fayetteville, AR.
More salary data for Fayetteville, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $82,960 for civil engineersin the Fayetteville metropolitan area. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov