Civil Engineer Salary in Birmingham, AL: $99,982 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Birmingham, AL earns a median $99,982/year (≈ $48.07/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Birmingham's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.6), that paycheck buys what $109,098 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Alabama state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Birmingham, Alabama, can expect a median annual salary of $99,982, which reflects a slight decrease of 3.39% compared to the national median of $103,492. The salary range for this profession varies significantly, spanning from $69,111 for entry-level positions to as much as $172,798 for those at the top tier, illustrating a marked disparity in pay structures. This data, sourced from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the diverse nature of civil engineering roles available in the region, with opportunities in government, private consulting, and construction companies like AECOM and Jacobs typically commanding higher salaries. Such differences are largely influenced by the sector of employment, with consulting firms at the higher end and public sector roles generally offering more stability but comparatively lower compensation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,111 | $33.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,349 | $38.63 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $99,982 | $48.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $131,182 | $63.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $172,798 | $83.08 |
Median Salary Position
3.39% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Birmingham
In Birmingham, AL, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $103,687 (2026 est.). At $99,982, the local median is 3.39% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Birmingham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Birmingham Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Birmingham median: $99,982/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Birmingham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $103,492 | -3.39% less |
Civil Engineers in Birmingham, AL earn a median of $99,982 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.39% lower than the national median of $103,492.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Birmingham has a cost of living 8.36% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Birmingham, AL has a cost-of-living index of 91.644 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $99,982 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,098 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.12% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,140
2025 BLS Actual
$97,420
2026 Current Est.
$99,982
2019–2027 Growth
+34.8%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Birmingham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,140 | Actual |
| 2020 | $74,470 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,110 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $84,650 | Actual |
| 2024 | $93,210 | Actual |
| 2025 | $97,420 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $99,982 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,612 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Birmingham metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 27.9% from $76,140 (2019) to $97,420 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $102,612 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,472 (34.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Birmingham 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) | $69,111 – $80,349 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,349 – $99,982 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $99,982 – $131,182 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $131,182 – $172,798 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Birmingham
The job market for civil engineers in Birmingham is robust, with approximately 1,070 professionals currently employed in this field. The local cost of living index stands at 91.644, which indicates that housing and other expenses are lower than the national average, allowing engineers to stretch their salaries further. Among the employers that offer the highest pay, top-tier firms like AECOM and Jacobs generally lead the way, followed by Fortune 500 construction companies such as Bechtel and Kiewit. Several factors contribute to the variation in salaries, including the presence of a PE license, specialization in high-demand areas like geotechnical or structural engineering, and the strategic choice between public versus private sector employment. To maximize earning potential in Birmingham's market, pursuing higher credentials, gaining experience in high-value projects, and navigating pathways into project management roles can prove especially beneficial.
More salary data for Birmingham, AL:
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
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 $97,420 for civil engineersin the Birmingham 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