Civil Engineer Salary in Tulsa, OK: $104,765 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Tulsa, OK earns a median $104,765/year (≈ $50.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Tulsa's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.2), that paycheck buys what $117,431 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.9% above the Oklahoma state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For 2026, civil engineers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, can expect a median annual salary of $104,765, notably above the national figure of $103,492. The salary range for professionals in this field spans from $75,238 at the 10th percentile to $155,926 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the significant disparity in pay based on experience, specialization, and licensure status. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights that obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license can substantially elevate compensation over time. In the tight job market of Tulsa, where engineering roles are critical to supporting the city’s growth, a strong professional network and the right credentials can make a significant difference in achieving higher salaries.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $75,238 | $36.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $83,212 | $40.01 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,765 | $50.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $132,639 | $63.77 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $155,926 | $74.97 |
Median Salary Position
1.23% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tulsa
In Tulsa, OK, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $80,688 (2026 est.). At $104,765, the local median is 1.23% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Tulsa: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Tulsa Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Tulsa median: $104,765/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tulsa Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Average | $91,980 | +13.90% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +1.23% more |
Civil Engineers in Tulsa, OK earn a median of $104,765 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.23% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 13.90% above the Oklahoma state average of $91,980.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tulsa has a cost of living 10.79% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tulsa, OK has a cost-of-living index of 89.214 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $104,765 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $117,431 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.09% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$95,370
2025 BLS Actual
$102,080
2026 Current Est.
$104,765
2019–2027 Growth
+12.7%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Tulsa (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $95,370 | Actual |
| 2020 | $97,320 | Actual |
| 2021 | $84,160 | Actual |
| 2022 | $93,600 | Actual |
| 2023 | $94,910 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $102,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,765 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $107,520 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tulsa metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 7.0% from $95,370 (2019) to $102,080 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $107,520 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,150 (12.74%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tulsa 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) | $75,238 – $83,212 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $83,212 – $104,765 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,765 – $132,639 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $132,639 – $155,926 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Tulsa
With approximately 880 civil engineers employed in the Tulsa area, the local job market is bolstered by a relatively low cost of living, evidenced by a cost-of-living index of 89.214, which allows for increased purchasing power compared to other regions. Large engineering firms such as AECOM and Jacobs, along with Fortune 500 companies like Bechtel, tend to pay higher salaries, driven by ongoing infrastructure investments as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The variation in civil engineer pay in Tulsa is influenced by factors such as entry-level positions versus those that require a PE license, specialization in high-demand areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, and the differences in pay scales between government, consulting firms, and private sector jobs. To maximize earning potential in this market, civil engineers should focus on enhancing their credentials, considering specialized certifications, and pursuing roles at established firms or frontline projects that benefit from federal infrastructure funding.
More salary data for Tulsa, OK:
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 $102,080 for civil engineersin the Tulsa 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