Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Cookeville, TN: $44.94 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Cookeville, TN runs $44.94 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $93,484 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Cookeville's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.8, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $48.96 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $56,087 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Cookeville, TN, civil engineers are projected to earn a median hourly rate of $44.94 in 2026, which falls below the national median of $49.76. This difference can affect professionals considering part-time or project-based roles, such as working three days a week, where they can earn approximately $32,000 annually based on 24 hours of work per week. Civil engineers often find themselves in diverse settings, from consulting firm offices equipped with CAD and AutoCAD workstations to field offices at construction sites. With an hourly pay range starting from $31.87 for entry-level positions to $69.67 for top earners, this profession accommodates a variety of skill levels. These figures are derived from annual salary data, reflecting the distinct earning potential within Cookeville compared to broader national trends.
About the Cookeville Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($88,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31.87 | $254.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $36.21 | $289.66 |
| Median (P50) | $44.94 | $359.53 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $56.82 | $454.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $69.67 | $557.32 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cookeville
Based on $44.94/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $44.94/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cookeville, TN can expect to earn approximately $93,479 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $53,930. With a cost-of-living index of 91.80 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cookeville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cookeville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,797.67 | $7,790 | $93,479 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,078.60 | $4,674 | $56,087 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $719.07 | $3,116 | $37,391 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Cookeville) | $44.94 |
| 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 Cookeville, TN earn a median of $93,484 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.67% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 5.00% below the Tennessee state average of $98,404.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $44.94/hr = $56,087/year (purchasing power: $61,097).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $93,479/year (purchasing power: $101,829).
CoL index: 91.8 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$37.81/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$43.79/hr
2026 Current Est.
$44.94/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Cookeville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $37.81/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $38.46/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $38.24/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.06/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $41.64/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $36.90/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $43.79/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $44.94/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $46.12/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Cookeville grew 15.8% from $37.81/hr (2019) to $43.79/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $46.12/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 Cookeville 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 Cookeville
Among part-time civil engineers working 24 hours a week in Cookeville, the annual take-home can offer a stark contrast to full-time positions, notably affecting lifestyle choices. Many civil engineers find themselves engaged in per diem contracts, where rates can reach $100 to $180 per hour, particularly for experienced professionals and specialty consultants in geotechnical or hydraulic studies. The workplace dynamics in Cookeville vary, with different hourly rates offered by engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs versus larger construction companies or government agencies. While some civil engineers might settle for lower hourly wages in exchange for benefits like health insurance, others prefer higher pay with no benefits. When negotiating hourly rates, professionals are advised to assess the value of consistent work versus higher pay for sporadic positions, especially in the evolving landscape driven by infrastructure needs from recent legislative funding.
More salary data for Cookeville, TN:
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 Cookeville. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Cookeville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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