Civil Engineer Salary in Lima, OH: $101,593 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Lima, OH earns a median $101,593/year (≈ $48.84/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Lima's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.7), that paycheck buys what $113,298 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% above the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source

Civil engineers in Lima, Ohio can anticipate a median annual salary of $101,593 in 2026, a figure slightly below the national average of $103,492. The local salary range for these professionals spans from $68,813 at the lower end (P10) to $134,722 at the top tier (P90), reflecting the diverse opportunities available in the area. Official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data indicates this competitive pay structure is influenced by the prevalent sectors in Lima, including consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, government agencies such as the Ohio Department of Transportation (DOT), and construction companies. The job market here is robust for civil engineers, indicating steady demand against the backdrop of increasing investments in local infrastructure.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $68,813 | $33.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,534 | $38.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,593 | $48.84 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $125,373 | $60.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $134,722 | $64.77 |
Median Salary Position
1.83% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lima
In Lima, OH, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $65,909 (2026 est.). At $101,593, the local median is 1.83% below the national median of $103,492.
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At 40 hours/week in Lima: You'd be above the median
How Lima Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Lima median: $101,593/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lima Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $98,730 | +2.90% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -1.83% less |
Civil Engineers in Lima, OH earn a median of $101,593 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.83% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 2.90% above the Ohio state average of $98,730.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lima has a cost of living 10.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lima, OH has a cost-of-living index of 89.669 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $101,593 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $113,298 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$72,420
2025 BLS Actual
$98,990
2026 Current Est.
$101,593
2019–2027 Growth
+44.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Lima (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,420 | Actual |
| 2020 | $78,320 | Actual |
| 2021 | $92,910 | Actual |
| 2022 | $94,950 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $93,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,990 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,593 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,265 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lima metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 36.7% from $72,420 (2019) to $98,990 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,265 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,845 (43.97%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lima 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) | $68,813 – $80,534 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,534 – $101,593 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,593 – $125,373 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $125,373 – $134,722 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Lima
Analyzing the local job market reveals that there are currently about 90 civil engineers employed in Lima, OH. With a cost-of-living index of 89.669, which is below the national average, the take-home purchasing power for civil engineers is relatively favorable. Among local employers, engineering consulting firms often offer the highest salaries, particularly for roles that require specialized knowledge in structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineering. Variations in pay are primarily driven by qualifications such as a Professional Engineer (PE) license, the type of sectors they work in, and their career track—whether in project management or as a technical individual contributor. To maximize pay in this market, aspiring civil engineers should consider pursuing advanced certifications, staying attuned to developments spurred by infrastructure spending initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and actively networking within both public and private sectors.
More salary data for Lima, OH:
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 $98,990 for civil engineersin the Lima 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