Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in New Orleans, LA: $53.41 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in New Orleans, LA runs $53.41 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $111,087 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against New Orleans's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $57.68 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $66,654 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in New Orleans, Louisiana, can expect a median hourly pay of $53.41, surpassing the national median of $49.76. This competitive rate provides a solid footing for part-time civil engineers working three days a week, or roughly 24 hours, allowing them to achieve meaningful earnings while maintaining flexible schedules. The typical work environment includes consulting firm offices equipped with software like CAD and Revit, as well as field and government offices, where civil engineers engage in critical design and planning tasks. With an hourly range starting at $34.53 for entry-level positions and reaching up to $77.34 for seasoned professionals, the civil engineer hourly pay in New Orleans offers a diverse spectrum for individuals entering or established in the profession. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS information and projected for 2026, paints an encouraging picture for civil engineers in LA.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $34.53 | $276.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39.99 | $319.96 |
| Median (P50) | $53.41 | $427.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $63.52 | $508.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77.34 | $618.74 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in New Orleans
Based on $53.41/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $53.41/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in New Orleans, LA can expect to earn approximately $111,090 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $64,090. With a cost-of-living index of 92.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in New Orleans.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in New Orleans
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,136.35 | $9,257 | $111,090 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,281.81 | $5,554 | $66,654 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $854.54 | $3,703 | $44,436 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (New Orleans) | $53.41 |
| Mechanical Engineer (National Avg) | $48.61 |
| Electrical Engineer (National Avg) | $54.18 |
| Architect (National Avg) | $45.72 |
| Construction Manager (National Avg) | $51.87 |
Civil Engineers in New Orleans, LA earn a median of $111,087 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.34% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 9.10% above the Louisiana state average of $101,821.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $53.41/hr = $66,654/year (purchasing power: $71,983).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $111,090/year (purchasing power: $119,971).
CoL index: 92.597 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$47.77/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$52.04/hr
2026 Current Est.
$53.41/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in New Orleans (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $47.77/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $52.87/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $48.04/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $50.97/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $51.99/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $48.14/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $52.04/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53.41/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54.81/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in New Orleans grew 8.9% from $47.77/hr (2019) to $52.04/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $54.81/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem civil engineers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Orleans 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.
Working as an Hourly Civil Engineer in New Orleans
Considering the potential for part-time work in New Orleans, a civil engineer working 24 hours a week could anticipate an annual income significantly lower than a full-time colleague but still respectable within the region. Per-diem civil engineers, who often operate as independent contractors, typically command between $100-$180 per hour, with seasoned specialists, such as structural and forensic engineers, billing rates ascending from $250 to $500 an hour when acting as expert witnesses. Various employer types influence these hourly rates significantly; large engineering consulting firms like AECOM or Jacobs may offer lower rates than what a construction giant like Bechtel could pay, due to differences in employee benefits. Some civil engineers might accept lower hourly pay in exchange for health insurance and retirement plans, illustrating the balance between immediate earnings and long-term security. Therefore, effective negotiation strategies—considering the specific demands of the workforce in New Orleans—become crucial for hourly workers seeking to optimize their civil engineer hourly rate in LA.
More salary data for New Orleans, LA:
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
Hourly wage 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 estimate current 2026 hourly rates for civil engineers in New Orleans. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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