Civil Engineer Salary in Minnesota: $106,693 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Minnesota's 44 metropolitan areas, the average median civil engineer pay sits at $106,693/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2051. Because Minnesota sits at BEA RPP 98.5 (1% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $108,318 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Mankato ($128,220), Minneapolis ($104,740), St. Paul ($103,688).
According to projections for 2026, the average median salary for civil engineers in Minnesota stands at $106,693, slightly above the national median of $103,492, creating a positive variance of +3.1%. Mankato emerges as the highest-paying city in the state with a projected salary of $131,592, while Faribault sits at the lower end of the spectrum with $98,110, illustrating a salary gap of $33,482. This disparity often stems from variations in local project demand, living costs, and the concentration of infrastructure projects. In Minnesota, civil engineers must meet specific state licensing requirements and comply with scope of practice laws, which can influence salary potential and job responsibilities. Demand drivers, including ongoing infrastructure investments and population growth, are expected to sustain a 2.63% annual compound growth rate in the profession. The job market for civil engineers in Minnesota shows promise, with a total of 4,262 employed in the field. Top cities projected for salaries include Minneapolis at $107,495, St. Paul at $106,415, Bloomington at $105,590, and Maple Grove at $105,270. These figures reflect a healthy employment landscape for civil engineers across the state.
Minnesota Civil Engineer Salary Range
Overall salary range in Minnesota: $65,394 (lowest entry-level) to $164,943 (highest top earner)
Minnesota vs National Average
Minnesota civil engineers earn 3.09% more than the national median (+$3,201/year difference).
Minnesota Civil Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)
Civil Engineer salaries in Minnesota range from $78,807 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $161,730 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $106,693. The Minnesota median is $3,201 above the US national median of $103,492. The average hourly rate is $51.29/hr. Approximately 4,262 civil engineers are employed across 44 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$91,338
2025 BLS Actual
$103,959
2026 Current Est.
$106,693
2019–2027 Growth
+19.9%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Minnesota (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $91,338 | Actual |
| 2020 | $92,051 | Actual |
| 2021 | $94,835 | Actual |
| 2022 | $94,734 | Actual |
| 2023 | $98,679 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,495 | Actual |
| 2025 | $103,959 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $106,693 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,499 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Minnesota metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 13.8% from $91,338 (2019) to $103,959 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,499 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,161 (19.88%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Minnesota 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 Minnesota
Lowest Paying Cities in Minnesota
Best Value Cities for Civil Engineers in Minnesota
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Minnesota cities offer the most purchasing power for civil engineers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato | $131,592 | 90.955 | $144,678 |
| Rochester | $103,862 | 90.821 | $114,359 |
| Duluth | $101,429 | 88.768 | $114,263 |
| St. Cloud | $98,648 | 87.632 | $112,571 |
| St. Paul | $106,415 | 98.5 | $108,036 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Minnesota
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $78,807 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $106,693 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $161,730 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Minnesota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 44 Cities in Minnesota
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mankato | $131,592 |
| 2 | Minneapolis | $107,495 |
| 3 | St. Paul | $106,415 |
| 4 | Bloomington | $105,590 |
| 5 | Maple Grove | $105,270 |
| 6 | Woodbury | $105,229 |
| 7 | Eden Prairie | $105,130 |
| 8 | Rochester | $103,862 |
| 9 | Owatonna | $103,103 |
| 10 | Brooklyn Park | $102,967 |
| 11 | Plymouth | $102,786 |
| 12 | Roseville | $102,724 |
| 13 | Chaska | $102,643 |
| 14 | Minnetonka | $102,622 |
| 15 | Cottage Grove | $102,507 |
| 16 | Burnsville | $102,424 |
| 17 | Lakeville | $102,046 |
| 18 | Chanhassen | $101,975 |
| 19 | Inver Grove Heights | $101,814 |
| 20 | Eagan | $101,799 |
| 21 | Brooklyn Center | $101,773 |
| 22 | Elk River | $101,758 |
| 23 | Prior Lake | $101,652 |
| 24 | Duluth | $101,429 |
| 25 | Ramsey | $101,281 |
| 26 | Blaine | $100,852 |
| 27 | Apple Valley | $100,696 |
| 28 | Shakopee | $100,597 |
| 29 | Coon Rapids | $100,582 |
| 30 | Savage | $100,419 |
| 31 | Edina | $100,409 |
| 32 | Maplewood | $100,114 |
| 33 | Andover | $100,089 |
| 34 | Richfield | $100,041 |
| 35 | St. Louis Park | $100,032 |
| 36 | Moorhead | $99,888 |
| 37 | Northfield | $99,164 |
| 38 | Hastings | $98,954 |
| 39 | St. Cloud | $98,648 |
| 40 | Fridley | $98,509 |
| 41 | Winona | $98,428 |
| 42 | Shoreview | $98,388 |
| 43 | Austin | $98,235 |
| 44 | Faribault | $98,110 |
More Minnesota Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced civil engineers.
Explore More Civil Engineer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Minnesota in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for civil engineers in Minnesota?
How does Minnesota civil engineer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level civil engineer salary in Minnesota?
How many civil engineers are employed in Minnesota?
Which Minnesota city offers the best value for civil engineers?
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
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 Minnesota. State averages are employment-weighted across 44 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 (–). 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