Civil Engineer Salary in Metairie, LA: $111,491 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Metairie, LA earns a median $111,491/year (≈ $53.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Metairie's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.3), that paycheck buys what $123,467 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.5% above the Louisiana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Civil engineers in Metairie, Louisiana, are poised to see a significant average salary, with projections indicating a median annual income of $111,491 in 2026. This figure surpasses the national average by approximately 7.73%, demonstrating a robust local market fueled by recent infrastructure spending initiatives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Salaries for civil engineers in this area range from $70,519 at the lower end to as much as $172,811 for those in the top percentile (P90). These numbers, derived from state-level estimates based on 2025 BLS data, reflect the increasing demand for engineering talent to support ongoing and planned projects in Metairie’s evolving landscape.
About the Metairie Market
Salary estimated from Louisiana average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,519 | $33.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $90,771 | $43.64 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $111,491 | $53.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $142,709 | $68.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $172,811 | $83.08 |
Median Salary Position
7.73% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Metairie
In Metairie, LA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $102,292 (2026 est.). At $111,491, the local median is 7.73% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Metairie: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Metairie Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Metairie median: $111,491/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Metairie Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,818 | +9.50% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +7.73% more |
Civil Engineers in Metairie, LA earn a median of $111,491 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.73% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 9.50% above the Louisiana state average of $101,818.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Metairie has a cost of living 9.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Metairie, LA has a cost-of-living index of 90.3 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $111,491 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $123,467 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.74% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$93,789
2025 BLS Actual
$108,634
2026 Current Est.
$111,491
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Metairie (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $93,789 | Actual |
| 2020 | $95,416 | Actual |
| 2021 | $94,855 | Actual |
| 2022 | $96,892 | Actual |
| 2023 | $103,301 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,212 | Actual |
| 2025 | $108,634 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $111,491 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $114,423 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Metairie metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $93,789 (2019) to $108,634 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $114,423 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,634 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Metairie 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) | $70,519 – $90,771 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $90,771 – $111,491 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $111,491 – $142,709 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $142,709 – $172,811 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Metairie
Within Metairie, the job market for civil engineers is relatively tight, with about 23 professionals currently employed in the area. The cost of living index sits at 90.3, suggesting that while salaries may seem competitive, the purchasing power is moderately lower compared to the national average. Employers that tend to offer higher compensation include major engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, along with Fortune 500 construction companies such as Bechtel and Kiewit. The disparity between the lower and upper salary tiers can be attributed to various factors, including the necessity of a Professional Engineer (PE) license for accessing senior roles, specialization in high-demand areas like structural and geotechnical engineering, and the difference in salary scales between top-tier consulting firms and local government agencies. Engineers looking to maximize their earnings in Metairie should consider obtaining their PE license, focusing on in-demand specialties, or pursuing leadership roles within projects to capitalize on the city's growth trajectory driven by substantial public and private investments.
More salary data for Metairie, 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 $108,634 for civil engineersin the Metairie 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
Salary data for Metairie is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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