Civil Engineer Salary in Michigan: $95,368 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Michigan's 54 metropolitan areas, the average median civil engineer pay sits at $95,368/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2051. Because Michigan sits at BEA RPP 93.2 (7% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $102,326 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Jackson ($107,320), Ann Arbor ($97,570), Clinton Township ($97,481).

Civil Engineer Salary in Michigan - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Michigan civil engineer salary overview (2026)

$95,368

Avg Median Salary

$45.85

Avg Hourly Rate

7,157

Metro Employed

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for civil engineers in Michigan is projected to be $95,369, which is 7.8% lower than the national median of $103,492. The highest paying city is Jackson, offering salaries around $110,143, while Saginaw presents the lowest at $83,325, illustrating a significant salary gap of $26,818. This disparity is primarily driven by regional demand for civil engineering projects, cost of living differences, and the concentration of engineering firms in urban areas. Professionals in Michigan must adhere to state licensing requirements and understand scope of practice laws, which can influence job opportunities and salary potential. The state’s ongoing infrastructure projects and investments in transportation and sustainable design are key demand drivers for civil engineers, contributing to an annual growth rate of 2.63%. The job market shows promise with an estimated total of 7,157 civil engineers employed across 54 metro areas. The top cities for job prospects and salaries include Ann Arbor at $100,136, Clinton Township at $100,045, Midland at $99,274, and Monroe at $99,151. Understanding these dynamics can help you make informed career decisions in Michigan's civil engineering sector.

Michigan Civil Engineer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$66,014

avg across 54 cities

Median

$95,368

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$137,122

avg across 54 cities

Overall salary range in Michigan: $61,112 (lowest entry-level) to $178,874 (highest top earner)

Michigan vs National Average

Michigan

$95,368

National Median

$103,492

Michigan civil engineers earn 7.85% less than the national median ($-8,124/year difference).

Michigan Civil Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)

Civil Engineer salaries in Michigan range from $66,014 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $137,122 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $95,368. The Michigan median is $8,124 below the US national median of $103,492. The average hourly rate is $45.85/hr. Approximately 7,157 civil engineers are employed across 54 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$77,679

2025 BLS Actual

$92,925

2026 Current Est.

$95,368

2019–2027 Growth

+26.0%

Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Michigan (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$77,679	Actual
2020	$78,012	Actual
2021	$77,112	Actual
2022	$79,238	Actual
2023	$83,023	Actual
2024	$86,689	Actual
2025	$92,925	Actual
2026(current)	$95,368	Estimated
2027	$97,877	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Michigan metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 19.6% from $77,679 (2019) to $92,925 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $97,877 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,198 (26.00%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Michigan 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Michigan

Jackson

80 employed · $52.96/hr

$110,143

+15.49% vs avg

Ann Arbor

220 employed · $48.14/hr

$100,136

+5.00% vs avg

Clinton Township

21 employed · $48.10/hr

$100,045

+4.90% vs avg

Midland

50 employed · $47.72/hr

$99,274

+4.10% vs avg

Monroe

50 employed · $47.67/hr

$99,151

+3.97% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Michigan

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Saginaw	$83,325	-12.63%	$40.06
Flint	$84,259	-11.65%	$40.51
Bay City	$87,944	-7.78%	$42.28
Romulus	$89,481	-6.17%	$43.02
Ypsilanti	$89,997	-5.63%	$43.27

Best Value Cities for Civil Engineers in Michigan

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Michigan cities offer the most purchasing power for civil engineers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Jackson	$110,143	91.779	$120,009
Battle Creek	$98,545	90.541	$108,840
Midland	$99,274	91.921	$107,999
Clinton Township	$100,045	93.2	$107,344
Monroe	$99,151	93.492	$106,053

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Michigan

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$66,014	$31.74	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$95,368	$45.85	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$137,122	$65.92	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Michigan metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 54 Cities in Michigan

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Jackson	$110,143	$52.96	$67,223	$137,668	80
2	Ann Arbor	$100,136	$48.14	$63,980	$145,068	220
3	Clinton Township	$100,045	$48.10	$66,130	$155,070	21
4	Midland	$99,274	$47.72	$68,300	$160,770	50
5	Monroe	$99,151	$47.67	$72,293	$145,468	50
6	Sterling Heights	$98,787	$47.50	$63,698	$153,119	29
7	Kalamazoo	$98,586	$47.39	$68,639	$163,715	240
8	Lansing	$98,566	$47.38	$68,444	$138,222	730
9	Battle Creek	$98,545	$47.37	$67,726	$151,287	50
10	Norton Shores	$97,918	$47.08	$70,765	$146,721	4
11	West Bloomfield	$97,788	$47.01	$65,781	$151,571	15
12	East Lansing	$97,734	$46.98	$71,220	$151,487	8
13	Shelby Township	$97,566	$46.90	$65,369	$151,227	21
14	Troy	$97,359	$46.81	$64,894	$150,906	20
15	Westland	$97,106	$46.69	$64,315	$150,515	14
16	Farmington Hills	$96,899	$46.58	$63,446	$150,194	20
17	Traverse City	$96,760	$46.52	$63,569	$132,413	120
18	Dearborn Heights	$96,685	$46.48	$63,356	$149,861	13
19	Southfield	$96,501	$46.40	$62,839	$149,576	19
20	Macomb Township	$96,294	$46.30	$62,470	$149,255	21
21	Wyoming	$96,210	$46.26	$63,414	$149,127	11
22	St. Clair Shores	$96,187	$46.25	$66,723	$149,090	13
23	Rochester Hills	$96,132	$46.21	$62,108	$149,005	12
24	Portage	$96,122	$46.21	$67,421	$148,989	7
25	Taylor	$95,865	$46.09	$61,112	$148,590	16
26	Port Huron	$95,595	$45.96	$66,029	$146,490	6
27	Muskegon	$95,590	$45.96	$67,223	$127,087	70
28	Royal Oak	$95,573	$45.95	$68,401	$148,138	12
29	Lincoln Park	$95,504	$45.92	$65,816	$146,411	8
30	Livonia	$95,314	$45.82	$67,508	$147,736	21
31	Niles	$95,056	$45.70	$68,721	$128,318	70
32	Grand Rapids	$95,035	$45.69	$64,790	$133,983	710
33	Detroit	$94,984	$45.67	$65,683	$133,111	3,870
34	Canton	$94,600	$45.49	$65,876	$146,631	25
35	Novi	$94,569	$45.47	$66,193	$146,582	12
36	Dearborn	$94,493	$45.43	$65,971	$146,465	19
37	Auburn Hills	$94,476	$45.42	$63,399	$146,438	4
38	Waterford	$94,424	$45.39	$65,862	$146,357	16
39	Roseville	$94,251	$45.31	$62,776	$145,134	11
40	Warren	$94,160	$45.27	$65,217	$145,948	27
41	Garden City	$94,065	$45.22	$62,345	$145,800	4
42	Allen Park	$93,500	$44.95	$68,456	$144,925	5
43	Pontiac	$93,435	$44.92	$63,630	$144,825	12
44	Kentwood	$93,351	$44.88	$64,600	$144,694	7
45	Marquette	$93,191	$44.81	$66,981	$139,679	4
46	Inkster	$93,046	$44.74	$66,928	$142,150	5
47	Holland	$92,463	$44.45	$66,014	$143,319	5
48	Ferndale	$91,823	$44.14	$64,047	$137,960	5
49	Mount Pleasant	$90,259	$43.39	$67,897	$138,081	6
50	Ypsilanti	$89,997	$43.27	$67,357	$139,496	4
51	Romulus	$89,481	$43.02	$66,106	$135,667	5
52	Bay City	$87,944	$42.28	$70,599	$178,874	50
53	Flint	$84,259	$40.51	$63,692	$139,002	190
54	Saginaw	$83,325	$40.06	$67,633	$140,018	170

More Michigan Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore civil engineer hourly pay in Michigan cities.

Jackson →Ann Arbor →Clinton Township →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new civil engineers.

Jackson →Ann Arbor →Clinton Township →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced civil engineers.

Jackson →Ann Arbor →Clinton Township →

Compare Cities in Michigan

Detroit, MIvsLansing, MI Detroit, MIvsGrand Rapids, MI Detroit, MIvsKalamazoo, MI Detroit, MIvsAnn Arbor, MI Detroit, MIvsFlint, MI Detroit, MIvsSaginaw, MI

View all comparisons →

Explore More Civil Engineer Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do civil engineers make in Michigan in 2026?

The average median civil engineer salary in Michigan is $95,368/year across 54 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $83,325 in Saginaw to $110,143 in Jackson. This makes Michigan 7.85% below the national median of $103,492. The state employs approximately 7,157 civil engineers.

What is the highest paying city for civil engineers in Michigan?

Jackson offers the highest civil engineer salary in Michigan at $110,143/year ($52.96/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Jackson ($110,143), Ann Arbor ($100,136), Clinton Township ($100,045). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for civil engineering services, and competition among employers for licensed civil engineers.

How does Michigan civil engineer pay compare to the national average?

Michigan's average civil engineer salary of $95,368 is 7.85% below the national median of $103,492 in 2026. The state employs approximately 7,157 civil engineers across 54 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level civil engineer salary in Michigan?

Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) in Michigan earn approximately $66,014/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $61,112 in lower-paying areas to $72,293 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many civil engineers are employed in Michigan?

Michigan employs approximately 7,157 civil engineers across 54 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Michigan one of the larger employers of civil engineers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the civil engineering field expands and the population ages.

Which Michigan city offers the best value for civil engineers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Jackson offers the highest purchasing power for civil engineers in Michigan, with an adjusted salary of $120,009 (nominal: $110,143, CoL index: 91.779). This means your dollar goes 9% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Aisha Patel, Ph.D.Data verified by Carlos Ramirez, M.S.

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 civil engineer compensation across Michigan. State averages are employment-weighted across 54 metro areas — larger metro areas with more civil engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

Share:Facebook X LinkedIn Email