Civil Engineer Salary in Cottage Grove, MN: $102,507 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Cottage Grove, MN earns a median $102,507/year (≈ $49.28/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Cottage Grove's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.5), that paycheck buys what $104,068 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% below the Minnesota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Cottage Grove, Minnesota, civil engineers can expect a median annual salary of $102,507 in 2026, reflecting a competitive position within the broader context of the region. The local salary range indicates considerable variability, with earnings projected between $70,627 and $157,131, revealing significant distinctions based on specialty and employer. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, adjusted for regional cost of living. Within this market, opportunities are prevalent across various sectors, including engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, as well as government roles, making Cottage Grove an appealing choice for civil engineering professionals.
About the Cottage Grove Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($95,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,627 | $33.96 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,064 | $38.97 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,507 | $49.28 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $127,956 | $61.52 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $157,131 | $75.55 |
Median Salary Position
0.95% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cottage Grove
In Cottage Grove, MN, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $86,504 (2026 est.). At $102,507, the local median is 0.95% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cottage Grove: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cottage Grove Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Cottage Grove median: $102,507/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cottage Grove Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $103,857 | -1.30% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -0.95% less |
Civil Engineers in Cottage Grove, MN earn a median of $102,507 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.95% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.30% below the Minnesota state average of $103,857.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cottage Grove has a cost of living 1.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cottage Grove, MN has a cost-of-living index of 98.5 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $102,507 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,068 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$86,231
2025 BLS Actual
$99,880
2026 Current Est.
$102,507
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Cottage Grove (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,231 | Actual |
| 2020 | $87,727 | Actual |
| 2021 | $87,212 | Actual |
| 2022 | $89,084 | Actual |
| 2023 | $94,977 | Actual |
| 2024 | $92,354 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,880 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,507 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,203 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cottage Grove metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $86,231 (2019) to $99,880 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,203 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,972 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cottage Grove 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) | $70,627 – $81,064 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,064 – $102,507 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,507 – $127,956 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $127,956 – $157,131 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Cottage Grove
Amid a local employment base of eight civil engineers, the cost of living in Cottage Grove, reflected in a CoL index of 98.5, suggests that while salaries are competitive, purchasing power remains a critical consideration for residents. Notably, larger firms such as Bechtel and Fluor, alongside regional engineering consultants, tend to offer the highest pay, attributed to their extensive project portfolios and established reputations. The disparity in compensation within Cottage Grove is driven by factors including the necessity of a Professional Engineer license for advanced positions, specialty skills impacting earnings, and the varying demands of public versus private infrastructure projects. To maximize salary potential in this area, civil engineers should pursue licensing, seek out top-tier firms, and remain adaptable to the ongoing shifts in infrastructure funding, particularly those influenced by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Cottage Grove, MN:
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 $99,880 for civil engineersin the Cottage Grove 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 Cottage Grove 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