Civil Engineer Salary in Zachary, LA: $94,667 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Zachary, LA earns a median $94,667/year (≈ $45.52/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Zachary's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.3), that paycheck buys what $104,836 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.0% below the Louisiana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, civil engineer salaries in Zachary are projected to reach a median annual figure of $94,667, showing a slight decrease compared to the national median of $103,492. Local estimates, derived from state-level BLS data and adjusted for regional cost factors, indicate pay ranges from $70,737 at the 10th percentile to $146,734 at the 90th percentile. This salary distribution reflects varying levels of experience, specialization, and the critical professional milestone of obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Entry-level positions for newly minted engineers will typically see more modest earnings, while those with a PE license can anticipate significantly higher compensation, especially as they move towards senior roles in project management or specialized technical tracks.
About the Zachary Market
Salary estimated from Louisiana average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,737 | $34.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $78,618 | $37.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $94,667 | $45.52 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $115,314 | $55.44 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $146,734 | $70.55 |
Median Salary Position
8.53% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Zachary
In Zachary, LA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $75,997 (2026 est.). At $94,667, the local median is 8.53% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Zachary: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Zachary Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Zachary median: $94,667/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Zachary Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,792 | -7.00% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -8.53% less |
Civil Engineers in Zachary, LA earn a median of $94,667 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.53% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 7.00% below the Louisiana state average of $101,792.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Zachary has a cost of living 9.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Zachary, LA has a cost-of-living index of 90.3 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $94,667 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,836 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.74% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$79,636
2025 BLS Actual
$92,241
2026 Current Est.
$94,667
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Zachary (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $79,636 | Actual |
| 2020 | $81,017 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,542 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,270 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,713 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,264 | Actual |
| 2025 | $92,241 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $94,667 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $97,157 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Zachary metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $79,636 (2019) to $92,241 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $97,157 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,521 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Zachary 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) | $70,737 – $78,618 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $78,618 – $94,667 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $94,667 – $115,314 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $115,314 – $146,734 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Zachary
Evaluating the job market in Zachary reveals a modest landscape with only six civil engineers currently employed in the area, coupled with a cost-of-living index of 90.3, which benefits workers' purchasing power. Employers in the region, including engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, can influence salaries based on the scope and complexity of projects. The disparity between lower and higher salaries is driven by several factors, including specialization in fields like structural or geotechnical engineering, firm tier distinctions, and the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has spurred infrastructure spending. To maximize civil engineer pay in Zachary, professionals should focus on obtaining PE licensure and consider roles within larger consulting firms, as they tend to offer more competitive compensation and benefits.
More salary data for Zachary, 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 $92,241 for civil engineersin the Zachary 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 Zachary 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