Civil Engineer Salary in Jonesboro, AR: $84,116 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Jonesboro, AR earns a median $84,116/year (≈ $40.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Jonesboro's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.9), that paycheck buys what $97,951 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.5% below the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
As infrastructure investment fueled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) continues to rise, the civil engineer salary in Jonesboro, Arkansas, reflects this positive shift in demand for the profession. In 2026, civil engineers can expect a median annual salary of $84,116, positioned well under the national median of $103,492, highlighting an approximate 18.72% deficit. Salary ranges from a low of $47,620 to a high of $125,321 showcase the significant variability among positions. Derived from data collected in 2025 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these figures indicate ongoing growth in the local job market as investment in infrastructure projects generates new hiring opportunities for civil engineers.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $47,620 | $22.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,264 | $32.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,116 | $40.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $101,778 | $48.93 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $125,321 | $60.25 |
Median Salary Position
18.72% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jonesboro
In Jonesboro, AR, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,701 (2026 est.). At $84,116, the local median is 18.72% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jonesboro: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Jonesboro Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Jonesboro median: $84,116/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jonesboro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $89,963 | -6.50% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -18.72% less |
Civil Engineers in Jonesboro, AR earn a median of $84,116 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.72% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 6.50% below the Arkansas state average of $89,963.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jonesboro has a cost of living 14.12% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Jonesboro, AR has a cost-of-living index of 85.876 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $84,116 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $97,951 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.45% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$89,930
2025 BLS Actual
$81,960
2026 Current Est.
$84,116
2019–2027 Growth
+-4.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Jonesboro (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $89,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,060 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,810 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,930 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,100 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,660 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,960 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,116 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,328 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jonesboro metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew -8.9% from $89,930 (2019) to $81,960 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,328 by 2027 — a total increase of $-3,602 (-4.01%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jonesboro 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) | $47,620 – $67,264 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,264 – $84,116 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,116 – $101,778 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $101,778 – $125,321 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Jonesboro
With approximately 30 civil engineers currently employed in the region, Jonesboro’s job market exhibits a degree of stability despite lower pay compared to the national average. The cost of living index of 85.876 suggests that salaries may stretch further here than in other areas, potentially improving overall purchasing power. High-paying opportunities are more prevalent within reputable engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs or within large construction entities such as Bechtel and Kiewit. The disparity between lower and higher salaries often derives from various factors, including specialization in fields such as structural or geotechnical engineering, the attainment of a Professional Engineer (PE) license, and the prestige of the employing firm. Aspiring civil engineers should consider targeting mid to upper-tier firms or specializing in in-demand areas to maximize their earning potential in the Jonesboro market.
More salary data for Jonesboro, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Jonesboro, AR in 2026?
Is Jonesboro, AR a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Can civil engineers make $100K in Jonesboro?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted civil engineer salary in Jonesboro?
How much does a civil engineer make per hour in Jonesboro?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Arkansas
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 $81,960 for civil engineersin the Jonesboro 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