Civil Engineer Salary in Lafayette, LA: $99,972 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Lafayette, LA earns a median $99,972/year (≈ $48.06/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Lafayette's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.2), that paycheck buys what $114,635 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lafayette, Louisiana, civil engineers access a promising salary structure, with an anticipated median of $99,972 in 2026. This figure reveals a competitive range for professional earnings, where entry-level positions earn around $59,176, and more seasoned engineers can reach up to $132,793. These estimates stem from 2025 BLS OEWS data and indicate a slight underperformance compared to the national median of $103,492. The job market here reflects a unique divide; engineers are often employed by a mix of consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, government agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Transportation, and large construction companies, each offering varied compensation aligned with project type and complexity.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,176 | $28.45 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $74,540 | $35.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $99,972 | $48.06 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $121,216 | $58.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $132,793 | $63.85 |
Median Salary Position
3.4% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lafayette
In Lafayette, LA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $73,617 (2026 est.). At $99,972, the local median is 3.4% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lafayette: You'd be above the median
How Lafayette Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Lafayette median: $99,972/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lafayette Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,804 | -1.80% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -3.40% less |
Civil Engineers in Lafayette, LA earn a median of $99,972 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.40% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.80% below the Louisiana state average of $101,804.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lafayette has a cost of living 12.79% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lafayette, LA has a cost-of-living index of 87.209 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $99,972 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $114,635 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.67% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$98,430
2025 BLS Actual
$97,410
2026 Current Est.
$99,972
2019–2027 Growth
+4.2%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Lafayette (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $98,430 | Actual |
| 2020 | $82,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,700 | Actual |
| 2022 | $92,580 | Actual |
| 2023 | $99,290 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $97,410 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $99,972 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,601 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lafayette metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew -1.0% from $98,430 (2019) to $97,410 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $102,601 by 2027 — a total increase of $4,171 (4.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lafayette 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) | $59,176 – $74,540 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $74,540 – $99,972 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $99,972 – $121,216 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $121,216 – $132,793 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Lafayette
Lafayette's engineering scene supports around 360 professionals, creating a robust local job market that benefits from the city's lower cost of living index, sitting at 87.209 compared to the national average. Engineers in the area can expect their take-home pay to stretch further, especially when considering regional demand driven by infrastructure projects linked to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While consulting firms tend to offer the most competitive salaries, the earning potential varies significantly based on factors such as the PE license, engineering specialty, and firm stature. Engineers can maximize pay in Lafayette by pursuing project manager roles or specializing in high-demand areas like transportation and structural engineering, capitalizing on local relationships, and seeking positions in firms with substantial infrastructure projects.
More salary data for Lafayette, LA:
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 $97,410 for civil engineersin the Lafayette 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