Civil Engineer Salary in Bentonville, AR: $88,847 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Bentonville, AR earns a median $88,847/year (≈ $42.71/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Bentonville's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 86.9), that paycheck buys what $102,241 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.2% below the Arkansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Bentonville, Arkansas, the projected median salary for civil engineers in 2026 is estimated at $88,847. This figure places local compensation approximately 14.15% below the national median of $103,492 for the same year. The salary spectrum for civil engineers in Bentonville ranges significantly, from $56,593 at the lower end (P10) to $137,713 for top earners (P90). Data derived from 2025 BLS estimates and adjusted for regional cost factors reveals a competitive market, especially as civil engineers advance from their Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) licensure to a Professional Engineer (PE) designation, which is critical for gaining higher-paying positions in the industry.
About the Bentonville Market
Salary estimated from Arkansas average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $56,593 | $27.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $72,440 | $34.82 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,847 | $42.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $112,597 | $54.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $137,713 | $66.21 |
Median Salary Position
14.15% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bentonville
In Bentonville, AR, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,120 (2026 est.). At $88,847, the local median is 14.15% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bentonville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bentonville Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Bentonville median: $88,847/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bentonville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $89,926 | -1.20% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -14.15% less |
Civil Engineers in Bentonville, AR earn a median of $88,847 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.15% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.20% below the Arkansas state average of $89,926.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bentonville has a cost of living 13.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bentonville, AR has a cost-of-living index of 86.9 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $88,847 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $102,241 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.08% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$74,740
2025 BLS Actual
$86,570
2026 Current Est.
$88,847
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Bentonville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $74,740 | Actual |
| 2020 | $76,036 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,590 | Actual |
| 2022 | $77,212 | Actual |
| 2023 | $82,320 | Actual |
| 2024 | $70,396 | Actual |
| 2025 | $86,570 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,847 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,183 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bentonville metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $74,740 (2019) to $86,570 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,183 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,443 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bentonville 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) | $56,593 – $72,440 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $72,440 – $88,847 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,847 – $112,597 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $112,597 – $137,713 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Bentonville
Within Bentonville's job market, there are 12 civil engineers currently employed, and the area's cost of living index stands at 86.9, meaning that salaries may stretch further here compared to national averages. Notably, engineering consulting firms, including established names like AECOM and Jacobs, tend to offer higher salaries, making positions in these organizations particularly attractive for civil engineers. The variance in compensation often reflects factors such as licensing status, specific engineering disciplines like structural or geotechnical, and the employer type, whether it be government agencies or private sector firms. Keeping an eye on consulting opportunities and pursuing licensure can greatly enhance a civil engineer's earning potential in Bentonville, especially in the wake of increased infrastructure spending driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
More salary data for Bentonville, AR:
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 $86,570 for civil engineersin the Bentonville 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 Bentonville 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