Civil Engineer Salary in Baton Rouge, LA: $115,387 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Baton Rouge, LA earns a median $115,387/year (≈ $55.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Baton Rouge's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.8), that paycheck buys what $127,106 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.4% above the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers a competitive civil engineer salary in Baton Rouge that reflects the impact of substantial infrastructure spending driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2026, the median annual salary is projected to reach $115,387, notably exceeding the national median of $103,492 by 11.49%. This compensation landscape spans a range from $73,883 at the 10th percentile to $168,744 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variations tied to experience, specialization, and employer. Derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, this data illustrates a robust job market for civil engineers in Baton Rouge, shaped by ongoing investments in public works and infrastructure projects that continue to escalate local hiring demand.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $73,883 | $35.52 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,331 | $40.54 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $115,387 | $55.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $136,200 | $65.49 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $168,744 | $81.13 |
Median Salary Position
11.49% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Baton Rouge
In Baton Rouge, LA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $94,861 (2026 est.). At $115,387, the local median is 11.49% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Baton Rouge: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Baton Rouge Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Baton Rouge median: $115,387/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Baton Rouge Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,752 | +13.40% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +11.49% more |
Civil Engineers in Baton Rouge, LA earn a median of $115,387 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.49% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 13.40% above the Louisiana state average of $101,752.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Baton Rouge has a cost of living 9.22% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Baton Rouge, LA has a cost-of-living index of 90.78 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $115,387 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $127,106 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.16% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$92,720
2025 BLS Actual
$112,430
2026 Current Est.
$115,387
2019–2027 Growth
+27.7%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Baton Rouge (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $92,720 | Actual |
| 2020 | $98,750 | Actual |
| 2021 | $81,080 | Actual |
| 2022 | $98,380 | Actual |
| 2023 | $110,110 | Actual |
| 2024 | $110,460 | Actual |
| 2025 | $112,430 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $115,387 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $118,422 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Baton Rouge metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 21.3% from $92,720 (2019) to $112,430 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $118,422 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,702 (27.72%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Baton Rouge 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) | $73,883 – $84,331 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,331 – $115,387 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $115,387 – $136,200 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $136,200 – $168,744 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Baton Rouge
Employing 1,140 civil engineers in the area, Baton Rouge presents a strong job market, enhanced by a favorable cost of living index of 90.78, which allows for greater purchasing power compared to many other regions. Within this competitive landscape, top earners often find opportunities with leading engineering consulting firms such as AECOM and Jacobs, as well as Fortune 500 construction companies. Variations in pay arise from factors such as professional licensing status (PE vs. EIT), specific engineering specialties, and the tier of the employing firm. For maximizing civil engineer pay in Baton Rouge LA, professionals should pursue the PE license and focus on advancing in high-demand fields like structural engineering or project management. Networking within local firms and staying updated on state-funded projects can also open doors to higher compensation opportunities.
More salary data for Baton Rouge, LA:
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 $112,430 for civil engineersin the Baton Rouge 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, 6-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