Civil Engineer Salary in Tinley Park, IL: $98,363 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Tinley Park, IL earns a median $98,363/year (≈ $47.29/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Tinley Park's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $101,301 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Tinley Park, Illinois, civil engineers can expect to earn an estimated median annual salary of $98,363 in 2026, a figure that falls 4.96% short of the national median of $103,492 for the same year. The salary range for civil engineers here varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting at $70,033 (P10) and seasoned professionals earning up to $152,462 (P90). These numbers, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost of living, reflect local market dynamics and career progression opportunities that often accompany obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Such licensure can significantly influence compensation, expanding career pathways and enabling access to higher-paying roles typically reserved for experienced professionals.
About the Tinley Park Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($102,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,033 | $33.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,134 | $38.53 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $98,363 | $47.29 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $125,904 | $60.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $152,462 | $73.30 |
Median Salary Position
4.96% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tinley Park
In Tinley Park, IL, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $82,429 (2026 est.). At $98,363, the local median is 4.96% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Tinley Park: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Tinley Park Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Tinley Park median: $98,363/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tinley Park Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $99,658 | -1.30% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -4.96% less |
Civil Engineers in Tinley Park, IL earn a median of $98,363 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.96% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.30% below the Illinois state average of $99,658.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tinley Park has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tinley Park, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $98,363 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $101,301 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$82,745
2025 BLS Actual
$95,842
2026 Current Est.
$98,363
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Tinley Park (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,745 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $83,686 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,482 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,137 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,789 | Actual |
| 2025 | $95,842 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $98,363 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $100,950 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tinley Park metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $82,745 (2019) to $95,842 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $100,950 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,205 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tinley Park 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) | $70,033 – $80,134 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,134 – $98,363 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $98,363 – $125,904 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $125,904 – $152,462 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Tinley Park
Analyzing the civil engineer job market in Tinley Park reveals an active yet specialized economic environment, with only eight engineers currently employed in the area. This intimate job market, combined with a cost-of-living index of 97.1, indicates that salaries, while competitive, provide a purchasing power that may stretch further than in higher-cost urban centers. Major employers such as top-tier engineering consulting firms and construction companies offer the highest pay, spotlighting the advantages of pursuing roles with firms like AECOM or Jacobs. The compensation disparity often arises from factors such as the type of PE licensure held, specialized skills in high-demand areas like geotechnical or structural engineering, and the project management path versus technical individual contributor track. To maximize pay, professionals should consider sharpening their expertise in high-demand subfields and actively seek roles within leading firms, particularly those engaged in government-funded infrastructure projects, which are set to expand as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to influence market dynamics and investment in local engineering capacities.
More salary data for Tinley Park, IL:
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 $95,842 for civil engineersin the Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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