Entry-Level Civil Engineer Salary in Fort Collins, CO: $69,439 (2026)
Quick Answer:New civil engineers entering the Fort Collins, CO job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $69,439 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 17-2051, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Fort Collins's local price level (BEA RPP 101.1 — 1% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $68,664 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($97,211) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
Entering the civil engineering field in Fort Collins, CO, comes with a starting civil engineer salary that reflects the city's unique market dynamics. Graduates can expect to earn around $69,439 as they begin their careers, which is significantly lower than the city's median annual salary of $97,211. However, this starting point provides a pathway for growth; new engineers can anticipate advancing to $82,751 within the first few years as they gain experience and demonstrate their skills. Fort Collins is a positive environment for new graduates, offering a blend of opportunities in both public and private sectors, ultimately benefiting those entering the profession in 2026 amid steady demand for infrastructure professionals.
Career Earnings Timeline in Fort Collins
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Collins
Entry-level civil engineers in Fort Collins, CO typically start between $69,439 and $82,751 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $81,201 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $97,211 — 6.07% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average civil engineering program cost in Colorado of $68,000 represents just 97.93% of the starting civil engineer pay ($69,439/year) in Fort Collins. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates cover ABET-accredited undergraduate civil engineering programs at public and private universities. Licensure (FE after graduation, PE after 4 years experience) adds exam fees. Many engineers pursue master's degrees (MS or MEng).
CE, PE Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Fort Collins
- 1Research the Fort Collins market: entry-level civil engineer pay ranges from $69,439 to $82,751, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the civil engineering field — employers in CO often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Fort Collins, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Fort Collins for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Fort Collins's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Civil Engineer Compensation Range
The civil engineer wage spread in Fort Collins is $81,201 ( 116.94%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $69,439, experienced hygienists can earn up to $150,640.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$52,960
2025 BLS Actual
$67,660
2026 Current Est.
$69,439
2019–2027 Growth
+34.6%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Fort Collins (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,960 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,530 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,770 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,360 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,410 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,760 | Actual |
| 2025 | $67,660 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,439 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,266 | Projected |
Entry-level civil engineer compensation (10th percentile) in Fort Collins, CO grew 27.8% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $52,960 in 2019 to $67,660 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $71,266. New graduates entering the Fort Collins job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Collins 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.
Starting Your civil engineering Career in Fort Collins
In Fort Collins, several prominent employers are actively seeking new graduates to fill roles in civil engineering. Major consulting firms like AECOM, Jacobs, and WSP often hire entry-level engineers, providing structured training programs that can fast-track development towards professional licensure. Opportunities also exist in government agencies like state DOTs and federal entities such as the US Army Corps of Engineers, which often offer attractive pension plans. In terms of qualifications, a Bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited program coupled with passing the FE exam and obtaining an EIT designation is crucial for new engineers aiming to increase their starting pay. Within the first one to three years, many engineers will need to focus on gaining relevant experience and possibly pursuing their PE license to unlock higher-paying roles and leadership opportunities in a market buoyed by continuous infrastructure spending, driven by recent national initiatives.
More salary data for Fort Collins, CO:
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
Entry-level 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 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new civil engineering graduates. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Fort Collins. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
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