Civil Engineer Salary in Albuquerque, NM: $107,844 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Albuquerque, NM earns a median $107,844/year (≈ $51.85/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Albuquerque's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.5), that paycheck buys what $112,871 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.4% above the New Mexico state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Albuquerque, NM, civil engineers can anticipate a median annual salary of $107,844 in 2026. This figure places local compensation above the national median of $103,492, reflecting a 4.21% premium for professionals in this area. The salary range for civil engineers spans from $76,747 at the 10th percentile to $159,374 at the 90th percentile, showcasing the diverse earning potential based on experience and specialization. Such projections are derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS data and indicate a competitive market for civil engineering roles. As the city experiences growth driven by infrastructure investment, opportunities for civil engineers will likely flourish, enhancing the profession's appeal.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,747 | $36.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,905 | $39.86 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $107,844 | $51.85 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $132,434 | $63.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $159,374 | $76.62 |
Median Salary Position
4.21% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albuquerque
In Albuquerque, NM, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $82,627 (2026 est.). At $107,844, the local median is 4.21% above the national median of $103,492.
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At 40 hours/week in Albuquerque: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Albuquerque Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Albuquerque median: $107,844/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Albuquerque Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Average | $97,684 | +10.40% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +4.21% more |
Civil Engineers in Albuquerque, NM earn a median of $107,844 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.21% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 10.40% above the New Mexico state average of $97,684.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Albuquerque has a cost of living 4.45% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Albuquerque, NM has a cost-of-living index of 95.546 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $107,844 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $112,871 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.66% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$90,450
2025 BLS Actual
$105,080
2026 Current Est.
$107,844
2019–2027 Growth
+22.4%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Albuquerque (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $90,450 | Actual |
| 2020 | $92,960 | Actual |
| 2021 | $85,760 | Actual |
| 2022 | $95,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $100,090 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,820 | Actual |
| 2025 | $105,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $107,844 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $110,680 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albuquerque metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 16.2% from $90,450 (2019) to $105,080 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $110,680 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,230 (22.37%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albuquerque 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) | $76,747 – $82,905 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,905 – $107,844 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $107,844 – $132,434 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $132,434 – $159,374 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Albuquerque
Within the local job market, approximately 680 civil engineers are currently employed in Albuquerque, benefiting from a cost of living index of 95.546, which is below the national average. This relatively lower index means that engineers here may enjoy increased purchasing power compared to many other regions. Employers such as AECOM, Jacobs, and WSP lead in providing higher salaries within the sector, particularly for those holding a PE license or specializing in lucrative areas like structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineering. The disparity in pay can be driven by various factors, including project management roles versus individual contributor positions, the tier of the consulting firm, and the influence of government versus private sector projects. To maximize pay in Albuquerque, engineers should seek licensure, pursue specialized roles, and consider opportunities with top-tier firms, particularly in the wake of increased infrastructure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Albuquerque, NM:
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 $105,080 for civil engineersin the Albuquerque 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