Civil Engineer Salary in New Hampshire: $102,127 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across New Hampshire's 16 metropolitan areas, the average median civil engineer pay sits at $102,127/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2051. Because New Hampshire sits at BEA RPP 107.3 (7% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $95,179 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Salem ($105,589), Merrimack ($105,455), Dover ($104,623).
In New Hampshire, the average median salary for civil engineers in 2026 is projected to be $102,126, which falls slightly below the national median of $103,492, resulting in a -1.3% difference. The highest-paying city for civil engineers is Salem, with a projected salary of $108,366, while Manchester offers the lowest at $101,306, creating a salary gap of $7,060. This discrepancy is influenced by factors such as local demand for civil engineering projects, cost of living variations, and the presence of infrastructure initiatives that tend to emerge in more populous or economically vibrant cities. New Hampshire's job market for civil engineers appears stable, with an expected annual growth rate of 2.63%, reflecting increasing infrastructure needs and population growth. State licensing requirements necessitate a Professional Engineering (PE) license for practice, which adds to the qualifications needed for higher-paying positions. Additionally, civil engineers in the state must navigate specific scope of practice laws that can affect their roles and responsibilities. Overall, 565 civil engineers are employed in the state, with the top projected salaries spread across cities like Merrimack at $108,228, Dover at $107,375, Londonderry at $106,901, and Rochester at $106,892, illustrating the varied opportunities available in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Civil Engineer Salary Range
Overall salary range in New Hampshire: $66,488 (lowest entry-level) to $167,272 (highest top earner)
New Hampshire vs National Average
New Hampshire civil engineers earn 1.32% less than the national median ($-1,365/year difference).
New Hampshire Civil Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)
Civil Engineer salaries in New Hampshire range from $68,423 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $151,716 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $102,127. The New Hampshire median is $1,365 below the US national median of $103,492. The average hourly rate is $49.10/hr. Approximately 565 civil engineers are employed across 16 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$88,592
2025 BLS Actual
$99,509
2026 Current Est.
$102,127
2019–2027 Growth
+18.3%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in New Hampshire (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,592 | Actual |
| 2020 | $85,077 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,918 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,335 | Actual |
| 2023 | $89,214 | Actual |
| 2024 | $94,080 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,509 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,127 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,812 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Hampshire metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 12.3% from $88,592 (2019) to $99,509 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,812 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,220 (18.31%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Hampshire 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New Hampshire
Lowest Paying Cities in New Hampshire
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Manchester | $101,306 |
| Nashua | $102,023 |
| Bedford | $104,588 |
| Concord | $105,816 |
| Hudson | $106,073 |
Best Value Cities for Civil Engineers in New Hampshire
When adjusted for local cost of living, these New Hampshire cities offer the most purchasing power for civil engineers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $108,366 | 107.3 | $100,993 |
| Merrimack | $108,228 | 107.3 | $100,865 |
| Dover | $107,375 | 107.3 | $100,070 |
| Londonderry | $106,901 | 107.3 | $99,628 |
| Rochester | $106,892 | 107.3 | $99,620 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in New Hampshire
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $68,423 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $102,127 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $151,716 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New Hampshire metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 16 Cities in New Hampshire
More New Hampshire Salary Data
Explore More Civil Engineer Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in New Hampshire in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for civil engineers in New Hampshire?
How does New Hampshire civil engineer pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level civil engineer salary in New Hampshire?
How many civil engineers are employed in New Hampshire?
Which New Hampshire city offers the best value for civil engineers?
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
Statewide 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. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 civil engineer compensation across New Hampshire. State averages are employment-weighted across 16 metro areas — larger metro areas with more civil engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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