Civil Engineer Salary in Russellville, AR: $86,919 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Russellville, AR earns a median $86,919/year (≈ $41.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Russellville's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 86.9), that paycheck buys what $100,022 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the Arkansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Russellville, Arkansas, expect to earn a median annual salary of $86,919, which reflects a significant gap when compared to the national median of $103,492. The local salary range spans from $64,028 at the 10th percentile to $134,725 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse earning potential based on experience and specialization. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price disparities, revealing a competitive, albeit modest, compensation landscape for civil engineers in the area. The high local cost of living index, at 86.9, further emphasizes the need for strategic career choices, particularly for engineers aiming to advance from the Engineer in Training (EIT) status to obtaining their Professional Engineer (PE) license, which typically accompanies a notable increase in pay.
About the Russellville Market
Salary estimated from Arkansas average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,028 | $30.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $71,796 | $34.51 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,919 | $41.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $111,257 | $53.49 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $134,725 | $64.77 |
Median Salary Position
16.01% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Russellville
In Russellville, AR, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $70,697 (2026 est.). At $86,919, the local median is 16.01% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Russellville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Russellville Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Russellville median: $86,919/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Russellville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $89,979 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -16.01% less |
Civil Engineers in Russellville, AR earn a median of $86,919 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.01% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 3.40% below the Arkansas state average of $89,979.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Russellville 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.
Russellville, AR has a cost-of-living index of 86.9 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $86,919 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $100,022 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.07% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$73,119
2025 BLS Actual
$84,692
2026 Current Est.
$86,919
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Russellville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $73,119 | Actual |
| 2020 | $74,387 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,950 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,537 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,535 | Actual |
| 2024 | $68,869 | Actual |
| 2025 | $84,692 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,919 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,205 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Russellville metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $73,119 (2019) to $84,692 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,205 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,086 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Russellville 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) | $64,028 – $71,796 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $71,796 – $86,919 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,919 – $111,257 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $111,257 – $134,725 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Russellville
With only six civil engineers currently employed in Russellville, the local job market presents unique opportunities and challenges. The relatively low number of professionals creates a tight-knit community, where relationships and reputation can significantly influence job prospects and compensation. Given the cost of living adjustment, engineers might find that their take-home pay is more substantial than it appears. Among local employers, consulting firms and state Departments of Transportation often lead in competitive pay, benefitting from the ongoing infrastructure investments fueled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The disparity between lower and higher salaries is influenced by factors such as specialization in fields like structural or geotechnical engineering and the transition to roles that require a PE license. To maximize pay in Russellville, professionals should pursue networking opportunities, seek out continuing education, and consider roles in top firms which may offer better salaries compared to mid-tier and smaller companies.
More salary data for Russellville, 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 $84,692 for civil engineersin the Russellville 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 Russellville 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