Civil Engineer Salary in St. Joseph, MO: $85,706 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in St. Joseph, MO earns a median $85,706/year (≈ $41.21/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in St. Joseph's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.4), that paycheck buys what $99,217 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.4% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected civil engineer salary in St. Joseph, Missouri, stands at $85,706, which is significantly lower than the national median of $103,492. Salaries in the area range from $59,546 at the lower end, with the 10th percentile earners, to $128,565 for those at the 90th percentile. Data sourced from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reflects compensation across various sectors, including engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, as well as government positions like those within the Department of Transportation (DOT) and construction companies. This varied salary structure indicates a competitive job market where specialization can make a substantial difference, especially for civil engineers who navigate diverse roles across public and private sectors in St. Joseph.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,546 | $28.62 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,126 | $37.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,706 | $41.21 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $108,100 | $51.97 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,565 | $61.81 |
Median Salary Position
17.19% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Joseph
In St. Joseph, MO, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,019 (2026 est.). At $85,706, the local median is 17.19% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Joseph: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Joseph Civil Engineer Pay Compares
St. Joseph median: $85,706/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Joseph Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $85,365 | +0.40% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -17.19% less |
Civil Engineers in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $85,706 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.19% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 0.40% above the Missouri state average of $85,365.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Joseph has a cost of living 13.62% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Joseph, MO has a cost-of-living index of 86.382 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $85,706 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $99,217 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,810
2025 BLS Actual
$83,510
2026 Current Est.
$85,706
2019–2027 Growth
+42.3%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,810 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,620 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,450 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,860 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,290 | Actual |
| 2024 | $89,880 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,510 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,706 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,960 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 35.1% from $61,810 (2019) to $83,510 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,960 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,150 (42.31%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph 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) | $59,546 – $77,126 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,126 – $85,706 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,706 – $108,100 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $108,100 – $128,565 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in St. Joseph
With only 40 civil engineers employed in St. Joseph, the local job market showcases a relatively stable environment for this profession, grounded in a cost-of-living index of 86.382, which suggests that salaries stretch further compared to national averages. Engineering consulting firms tend to offer the highest wages, attracting skilled professionals, particularly those with PE licenses who are poised to take on senior project management positions. Factors contributing to the wide disparity in salaries include the level of professional credentials, specialization areas such as structural or transportation engineering, and individual firm size—where top-tier consulting firms often surpass mid-tier and government positions in compensation. To maximize pay in St. Joseph, civil engineers are encouraged to pursue advanced certifications, engage in continuous professional development, and consider roles in sectors that are likely to benefit from recent infrastructure spending initiatives outlined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
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 $83,510 for civil engineersin the St. Joseph 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