Civil Engineer Salary in La Crosse, WI: $98,391 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in La Crosse, WI earns a median $98,391/year (≈ $47.30/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in La Crosse's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $107,216 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The projected civil engineer salary in La Crosse, Wisconsin for 2026 stands at $98,391, slightly lower than the national median of $103,492. The salary range varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting at around $73,442 and top professionals earning as much as $141,393. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the impact of licensure progression, where obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license can significantly elevate compensation opportunities. In La Crosse's job market, the demand for skilled civil engineering professionals remains steady, driven in part by ongoing infrastructure projects funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $73,442 | $35.30 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,913 | $38.91 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $98,391 | $47.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $119,759 | $57.58 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $141,393 | $67.97 |
Median Salary Position
4.93% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in La Crosse
In La Crosse, WI, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,951 (2026 est.). At $98,391, the local median is 4.93% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in La Crosse: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How La Crosse Civil Engineer Pay Compares
La Crosse median: $98,391/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | La Crosse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $96,085 | +2.40% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -4.93% less |
Civil Engineers in La Crosse, WI earn a median of $98,391 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.93% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 2.40% above the Wisconsin state average of $96,085.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
La Crosse has a cost of living 8.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
La Crosse, WI has a cost-of-living index of 91.769 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $98,391 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,216 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.97% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$77,160
2025 BLS Actual
$95,870
2026 Current Est.
$98,391
2019–2027 Growth
+30.9%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in La Crosse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,160 | Actual |
| 2020 | $77,520 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,710 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,440 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,970 | Actual |
| 2024 | $90,380 | Actual |
| 2025 | $95,870 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $98,391 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $100,979 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the La Crosse metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 24.2% from $77,160 (2019) to $95,870 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $100,979 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,819 (30.87%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the La Crosse 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) | $73,442 – $80,913 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,913 – $98,391 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $98,391 – $119,759 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $119,759 – $141,393 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in La Crosse
As of 2025, there are approximately 190 civil engineers active in La Crosse, signaling a relatively stable local job market. With a cost of living index of 91.769, professionals may find that their take-home pay carries more weight compared to more expensive regions. Among local employers, top-tier engineering consulting firms such as AECOM and Jacobs tend to offer the most competitive salaries, particularly for roles that require advanced expertise or a PE license. The variance in salaries can often be attributed to a combination of workplace type—consulting firms compared to government agencies—and the specific engineering discipline, with specialties like structural and geotechnical engineering commanding higher salaries. To maximize earning potential in La Crosse, targeting positions in established consulting firms or pursuing managerial tracks can be strategic decisions.
More salary data for La Crosse, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in La Crosse, WI in 2026?
Is La Crosse, WI a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Can civil engineers make $100K in La Crosse?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted civil engineer salary in La Crosse?
How much does a civil engineer make per hour in La Crosse?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Wisconsin
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 $95,870 for civil engineersin the La Crosse 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