Civil Engineer Salary in Altoona, PA: $96,144 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Altoona, PA earns a median $96,144/year (≈ $46.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Altoona's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.5), that paycheck buys what $107,415 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Civil engineers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $96,144 in 2026, which reflects a competitive landscape informed by the local employment divisions. The salary range for these professionals spans from $70,784 at the 10th percentile to $128,236 at the 90th percentile. The data, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, indicates that civil engineers working in consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs typically command higher salaries compared to their counterparts in government roles or construction. This divergence in pay underscores the nuances of the local job market, where factors such as project complexity, firm reputation, and funding sources can significantly influence earning potential.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,784 | $34.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $78,974 | $37.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $96,144 | $46.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $112,349 | $54.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,236 | $61.65 |
Median Salary Position
7.1% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Altoona
In Altoona, PA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $57,452 (2026 est.). At $96,144, the local median is 7.1% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Altoona: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Altoona Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Altoona median: $96,144/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Altoona Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $97,509 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -7.10% less |
Civil Engineers in Altoona, PA earn a median of $96,144 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.10% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.40% below the Pennsylvania state average of $97,509.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Altoona has a cost of living 10.49% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Altoona, PA has a cost-of-living index of 89.507 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $96,144 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,415 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,930
2025 BLS Actual
$93,680
2026 Current Est.
$96,144
2019–2027 Growth
+25.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Altoona (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $82,520 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,820 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,760 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,610 | Actual |
| 2024 | $92,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $93,680 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,144 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $98,672 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Altoona metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 18.7% from $78,930 (2019) to $93,680 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $98,672 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,742 (25.01%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Altoona 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) | $70,784 – $78,974 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $78,974 – $96,144 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $96,144 – $112,349 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $112,349 – $128,236 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Altoona
With 220 civil engineers employed locally, the job market in Altoona shows promising stability for professionals in this field. The cost of living index in the area stands at 89.507, indicating that living expenses are below the national average, which can enhance take-home purchasing power. Those seeking the highest pay should target employment with top-tier consulting firms, which generally offer more competitive salaries than public agencies or smaller companies. Several factors contribute to the pay disparities, including the necessity of obtaining a PE license and the specialization in high-demand areas such as structural or geotechnical engineering. Strategies for maximizing pay include investing in continued education and certifications, actively engaging in infrastructure projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and considering roles in project management, which often yield higher compensation than technical positions alone.
More salary data for Altoona, PA:
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 $93,680 for civil engineersin the Altoona 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