Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Lansing, MI: $47.38 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Lansing, MI runs $47.38 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $98,566 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Lansing's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.0, 5% below national), each hour of work buys what $49.88 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $59,136 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Lansing, Michigan, the civil engineer hourly pay is projected to be $47.38 in 2026, slightly below the national hourly median of $49.76. This wage offers various opportunities for professionals in part-time roles or as per-diem workers. For instance, a civil engineer working three days a week would earn approximately $1,240 weekly, amounting to a significant annual income while enjoying a flexible schedule. The hourly pay range for this occupation in Lansing spans from $32.90 at the entry level to $66.45 for experienced top earners. These values, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, illustrate the competitive landscape for civil engineering roles within the city, particularly in environments such as engineering consulting firms, construction site settings, and government offices.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32.90 | $263.23 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37.12 | $296.97 |
| Median (P50) | $47.38 | $379.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59.35 | $474.81 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $66.45 | $531.62 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lansing
Based on $47.38/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $47.38/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lansing, MI can expect to earn approximately $98,559 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $56,861. With a cost-of-living index of 94.99 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lansing.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lansing
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,895.37 | $8,213 | $98,559 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,137.22 | $4,928 | $59,136 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $758.15 | $3,285 | $39,424 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Lansing) | $47.38 |
| 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 Lansing, MI earn a median of $98,566 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.76% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.90% above the Michigan state average of $96,728.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $47.38/hr = $59,136/year (purchasing power: $62,254).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $98,559/year (purchasing power: $103,756).
CoL index: 94.991 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$38.84/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$46.17/hr
2026 Current Est.
$47.38/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+25.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Lansing (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38.84/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $38.53/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $38.16/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.01/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $41.28/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $44.56/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $46.17/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $47.38/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $48.63/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Lansing grew 18.9% from $38.84/hr (2019) to $46.17/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $48.63/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 Lansing 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 Lansing
When examining the earning potential for part-time civil engineers in Lansing, one can see that a professional working 24 hours a week would earn around $64,070 annually, enabling a comfortable lifestyle, especially given the local cost of living index of 94.991. In contrast, per-diem civil engineers, particularly those working on a 1099 basis, may command rates from $100 to $180 per hour, with niche specialists like forensic engineers charging upwards of $250. The variation in hourly rates is often attributed to the type of employer. Consulting firms, Fortune 500 construction companies, and government agencies all offer different compensation structures, with some engineers opting for lower hourly pay in exchange for benefits like health insurance. Negotiating effectively for hourly work can mean emphasizing relevant expertise or earning potential, ensuring that Lansing's civil engineers are well-positioned to take advantage of the ongoing infrastructure spending trends stemming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Lansing, MI:
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 Lansing. 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