Civil Engineer Salary in Detroit, MI: $94,984 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Detroit, MI earns a median $94,984/year (≈ $45.67/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Detroit's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.3), that paycheck buys what $94,702 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% below the Michigan state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $94,984 for civil engineers in Detroit, the city's compensation packages reflect both local employment dynamics and broader national trends. The salary range here spans from $65,683 at the 10th percentile to $133,111 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, indicates that while Detroit's civil engineer pay falls approximately 8.22% below the national median of $103,492, the growth rate is promising, projected at 2.63% annually. The presence of key employers and a supportive local infrastructure spending environment should help sustain and potentially elevate salaries, as professionals advance in their careers, particularly through the attainment of a Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,683 | $31.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $78,307 | $37.64 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $94,984 | $45.67 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $109,783 | $52.78 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $133,111 | $63.99 |
Median Salary Position
8.22% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Detroit
In Detroit, MI, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,428 (2026 est.). At $94,984, the local median is 8.22% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Detroit: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Detroit Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Detroit median: $94,984/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Detroit Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Average | $96,725 | -1.80% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -8.22% less |
Civil Engineers in Detroit, MI earn a median of $94,984 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.22% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.80% below the Michigan state average of $96,725.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Detroit has a cost of living 0.30% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Detroit, MI has a cost-of-living index of 100.298 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $94,984 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $94,702 — a 0.3% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,240
2025 BLS Actual
$92,550
2026 Current Est.
$94,984
2019–2027 Growth
+27.9%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Detroit (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $76,850 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,450 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,900 | Actual |
| 2023 | $82,920 | Actual |
| 2024 | $85,690 | Actual |
| 2025 | $92,550 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $94,984 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $97,482 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Detroit metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 21.4% from $76,240 (2019) to $92,550 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $97,482 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,242 (27.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Detroit 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) | $65,683 – $78,307 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $78,307 – $94,984 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $94,984 – $109,783 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $109,783 – $133,111 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Detroit
The job market for civil engineers in Detroit is robust, with around 3,870 professionals currently employed in the field. However, the cost of living index sits slightly above the national average at 100.298, which impacts take-home pay and overall purchasing power. Employers such as AECOM, Jacobs, and Stantec lead the pack in compensation, while state and local governments, as well as large construction firms like Bechtel and Fluor, offer competitive packages albeit often less than top consulting firms. The disparity in pay can be attributed to various factors, including the value of obtaining a PE license, specific engineering specialties like structural or geotechnical, and differences in firm tier and type. To optimize earnings in the Detroit MI market, aspiring civil engineers should focus on gaining relevant certification, networking within strong local firms, and targeting opportunities aligned with the ongoing infrastructure investment trends fostered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Detroit, 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 $92,550 for civil engineersin the Detroit 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, 7-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