Civil Engineer Salary in Bay City, MI: $87,944 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Bay City, MI earns a median $87,944/year (≈ $42.28/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Bay City's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.9), that paycheck buys what $95,673 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.1% below the Michigan state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With the recent push for infrastructure improvements driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the civil engineer salary in Bay City has seen promising growth. In 2026, the median annual pay is projected at $87,944, which represents a slight decline compared to the national median of $103,492. The salary range for civil engineers in this area spans from $70,599 at the lower percentile to $178,874 at the top tier, reflecting the diverse roles and responsibilities that civil engineers carry. These figures, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlight the impact of infrastructure investments on local hiring trends, predicting a workforce increase in this vital sector.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,599 | $33.94 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,833 | $39.82 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,944 | $42.28 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $129,765 | $62.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $178,874 | $85.99 |
Median Salary Position
15.02% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bay City
In Bay City, MI, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $108,275 (2026 est.). At $87,944, the local median is 15.02% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bay City: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Bay City Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Bay City median: $87,944/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bay City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Average | $96,748 | -9.10% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -15.02% less |
Civil Engineers in Bay City, MI earn a median of $87,944 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.02% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 9.10% below the Michigan state average of $96,748.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bay City has a cost of living 8.08% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bay City, MI has a cost-of-living index of 91.921 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $87,944 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $95,673 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.79% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$80,810
2025 BLS Actual
$85,690
2026 Current Est.
$87,944
2019–2027 Growth
+11.7%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Bay City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $80,810 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,263 | Actual |
| 2021 | $74,822 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $97,340 | Actual |
| 2024 | $99,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $85,690 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,944 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,257 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bay City metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 6.0% from $80,810 (2019) to $85,690 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,257 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,447 (11.69%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bay City 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) | $70,599 – $82,833 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,833 – $87,944 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,944 – $129,765 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $129,765 – $178,874 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Bay City
Examining the local job market reveals that there are currently 50 civil engineers employed in Bay City, MI. With a cost of living index of 91.921, the purchasing power is relatively favorable compared to many other regions. Notably, top employers, including leading consulting firms such as AECOM, Jacobs, and WSP, tend to offer higher salaries, particularly for positions requiring a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which differentiates senior roles from entry-level positions. The salary disparity can also be influenced by specific engineering specialties, the tier of the hiring firm, and whether the role is positioned in the public or private sector. To maximize pay potential, engineers should consider positions in higher-tier firms or government agencies, focus on securing advanced credentials, and explore specializations that are currently in demand due to ongoing infrastructure projects in the area.
More salary data for Bay City, MI:
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 $85,690 for civil engineersin the Bay City 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, 5-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