Civil Engineer Salary in Prescott, AZ: $96,776 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Prescott, AZ earns a median $96,776/year (≈ $46.52/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Prescott's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.5), that paycheck buys what $98,250 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.1% above the Arizona state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Prescott, Arizona, civil engineers are projected to earn a median annual salary of $96,776 in 2026, which is approximately 6.49% lower than the national median of $103,492 for the same year. The salary range for this profession varies significantly, extending from $70,613 at the 10th percentile to $150,003 at the 90th percentile. This robust salary spectrum highlights the potential for variation based on individual expertise, specialization, and experience level. Estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for local economic factors, indicate the importance of achieving a Professional Engineer (PE) license to unlock higher salary opportunities, especially in a market with increasing infrastructure demands driven by initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
About the Prescott Market
Salary estimated from Arizona average ($95,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,613 | $33.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,739 | $38.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $96,776 | $46.52 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $123,873 | $59.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $150,003 | $72.12 |
Median Salary Position
6.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Prescott
In Prescott, AZ, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $79,390 (2026 est.). At $96,776, the local median is 6.49% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Prescott: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Prescott Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Prescott median: $96,776/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Prescott Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Average | $94,785 | +2.10% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -6.49% less |
Civil Engineers in Prescott, AZ earn a median of $96,776 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.49% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 2.10% above the Arizona state average of $94,785.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Prescott has a cost of living 1.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Prescott, AZ has a cost-of-living index of 98.5 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $96,776 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $98,250 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$74,390
2025 BLS Actual
$94,296
2026 Current Est.
$96,776
2019–2027 Growth
+33.5%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Prescott (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $74,390 | Actual |
| 2020 | $77,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,230 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,310 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,430 | Actual |
| 2024 | $90,285 | Actual |
| 2025 | $94,296 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,776 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,321 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Prescott metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 26.8% from $74,390 (2019) to $94,296 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,321 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,931 (33.51%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Prescott 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) | $70,613 – $79,739 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,739 – $96,776 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $96,776 – $123,873 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $123,873 – $150,003 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Prescott
Despite having only nine civil engineers currently employed in Prescott, the local job market presents a stable environment for engineering professionals. With a cost of living index at 98.5, the purchasing power of civil engineer pay in Prescott, AZ is enhanced, providing a reasonable balance between salary and living expenses. Employers that tend to offer competitive compensation include top-tier engineering consulting firms such as AECOM and Jacobs, as well as federal agencies like the EPA. The difference between lower and higher civil engineer salaries often results from factors such as specialization in high-demand areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, the influence of the PE license on career advancement, and the increasing infrastructure investment from both public and private sectors. To maximize earning potential in Prescott, civil engineers should consider obtaining their PE licenses, pursuing specialized certifications, and focusing on roles in companies that leverage government-funded projects while maintaining strong local relationships.
More salary data for Prescott, AZ:
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 $94,296 for civil engineersin the Prescott 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
Salary data for Prescott 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