Civil Engineer Salary in Norfolk, NE: $88,191 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Norfolk, NE earns a median $88,191/year (≈ $42.40/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Norfolk's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $96,384 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.9% below the Nebraska state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Norfolk, Nebraska, the projected civil engineer salary in 2026 stands at $88,191, which reflects a significant yet nuanced contrast when compared to the national average of $103,492. Civil engineers here earn an estimated salary range of $65,814 (P10) to a high of $134,865 (P90) based on current regional market conditions. This salary distribution can be influenced by the type of employer—whether it's consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, government agencies such as the Department of Transportation (DOT), or construction businesses. The job market in Norfolk shows a concentrated employment of six civil engineers, highlighting both opportunities and the competitive dynamics within this local economy.
About the Norfolk Market
Salary estimated from Nebraska average ($88,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,814 | $31.64 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,389 | $35.28 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,191 | $42.40 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $110,758 | $53.24 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $134,865 | $64.84 |
Median Salary Position
14.78% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Norfolk
In Norfolk, NE, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,051 (2026 est.). At $88,191, the local median is 14.78% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Norfolk: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Norfolk Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Norfolk median: $88,191/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Norfolk Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $94,727 | -6.90% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -14.78% less |
Civil Engineers in Norfolk, NE earn a median of $88,191 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.78% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 6.90% below the Nebraska state average of $94,727.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Norfolk has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Norfolk, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $88,191 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $96,384 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$74,188
2025 BLS Actual
$85,931
2026 Current Est.
$88,191
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Norfolk (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $74,188 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,475 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,032 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,643 | Actual |
| 2023 | $81,713 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,989 | Actual |
| 2025 | $85,931 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,191 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,510 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Norfolk metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $74,188 (2019) to $85,931 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,510 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,322 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Norfolk 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) | $65,814 – $73,389 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,389 – $88,191 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,191 – $110,758 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $110,758 – $134,865 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Norfolk
Shifting focus to the local job market, civil engineer pay in Norfolk, NE, takes into account the cost of living, which is considerably lower at a CoL index of 91.5 relative to the national average. This adjustment means that while salaries may appear lower than the national average, the purchasing power for residents is relatively strong. Among the hiring landscape, top compensation tends to cluster within engineering consulting firms, particularly those engaged in large infrastructure projects that benefit from recent government funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Factors contributing to salary disparities include the attainment of a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which is critical for advancing into senior roles, as well as the specific expertise in high-demand areas like structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineering. For professionals aiming to maximize their pay in this market, seeking positions in larger firms or gaining specialized certifications can significantly enhance earning potential.
More salary data for Norfolk, NE:
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 $85,931 for civil engineersin the Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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