Civil Engineer Salary in Atlantic City, NJ: $101,973 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Atlantic City, NJ earns a median $101,973/year (≈ $49.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Atlantic City's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.9), that paycheck buys what $103,152 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 14.5% below the New Jersey state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in Atlantic City, NJ, can expect a median annual salary of $101,973, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.47% compared to the national median of $103,492. Salary ranges for this profession are notable, with entry-level positions starting at $69,634 and experienced professionals earning as much as $171,043 annually. These figures come from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, illustrating the existing divide between consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, government roles such as those with the state Department of Transportation, and construction companies. The job market in Atlantic City is dynamic but also influenced by local infrastructure demands, creating varied pay scales among different sectors.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,634 | $33.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,565 | $38.73 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,973 | $49.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $129,899 | $62.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $171,043 | $82.24 |
Median Salary Position
1.47% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Atlantic City
In Atlantic City, NJ, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $101,409 (2026 est.). At $101,973, the local median is 1.47% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Atlantic City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Atlantic City Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Atlantic City median: $101,973/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Atlantic City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Average | $119,267 | -14.50% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -1.47% less |
Civil Engineers in Atlantic City, NJ earn a median of $101,973 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.47% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 14.50% below the New Jersey state average of $119,267.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Atlantic City has a cost of living 1.14% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Atlantic City, NJ has a cost-of-living index of 98.857 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $101,973 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $103,152 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.16% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$79,100
2025 BLS Actual
$99,360
2026 Current Est.
$101,973
2019–2027 Growth
+32.3%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Atlantic City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $79,100 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,850 | Actual |
| 2021 | $81,920 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,040 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,890 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,360 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,360 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,973 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,655 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Atlantic City metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 25.6% from $79,100 (2019) to $99,360 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,655 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,555 (32.31%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Atlantic City 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) | $69,634 – $80,565 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,565 – $101,973 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,973 – $129,899 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $129,899 – $171,043 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Atlantic City
With 170 civil engineers currently employed in Atlantic City, the local job market shows promise despite a cost-of-living index slightly below the national average at 98.857. This reality means that while salaries are competitive, take-home pay may not stretch as far as in higher-cost areas. Employers that tend to offer the highest pay include leading engineering consulting firms, established construction companies like Bechtel and Fluor, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The gap between salaries at various firms often reflects the aging workforce, specialization areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, and whether the role requires a PE license. To maximize earnings, engineers should pursue advanced credentials, focus on high-demand specialties, and consider opportunities in firms aligned with the current infrastructure investment boom driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Atlantic City, NJ:
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 $99,360 for civil engineersin the Atlantic City 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