Civil Engineer Salary in Racine, WI: $96,872 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Racine, WI earns a median $96,872/year (≈ $46.57/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Racine's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $100,949 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Racine, Wisconsin, civil engineers are projected to earn a median annual salary of $96,872 in 2026, reflecting a competitive compensation package relative to the national median of $103,492. The salary range in the area spans from $73,791 at the 10th percentile to $139,567 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variation in pay based on experience, specialization, and the type of employer. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the diverse opportunities available for civil engineers working in various sectors such as consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, state and local government roles, and construction companies. Given Racine's unique job market dynamics, engineers considering employment here should assess the division between government positions and the private sector, as this can substantially influence earning potential.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $73,791 | $35.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $74,468 | $35.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $96,872 | $46.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $123,946 | $59.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $139,567 | $67.10 |
Median Salary Position
6.4% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Racine
In Racine, WI, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $65,776 (2026 est.). At $96,872, the local median is 6.4% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Racine: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Racine Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Racine median: $96,872/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Racine Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $96,104 | +0.80% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | -6.40% less |
Civil Engineers in Racine, WI earn a median of $96,872 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.40% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 0.80% above the Wisconsin state average of $96,104.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Racine has a cost of living 4.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Racine, WI has a cost-of-living index of 95.961 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $96,872 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $100,949 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.21% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$87,050
2025 BLS Actual
$94,390
2026 Current Est.
$96,872
2019–2027 Growth
+14.2%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Racine (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $87,050 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,770 | Actual |
| 2021 | $95,300 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,180 | Actual |
| 2023 | $92,660 | Actual |
| 2024 | $86,500 | Actual |
| 2025 | $94,390 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,872 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,420 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Racine metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 8.4% from $87,050 (2019) to $94,390 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,420 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,370 (14.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Racine 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) | $73,791 – $74,468 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $74,468 – $96,872 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $96,872 – $123,946 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $123,946 – $139,567 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Racine
With 90 civil engineers currently employed in Racine, the local job market appears steady, further bolstered by a cost of living index of 95.961, which is below the national average. This affordability allows for a higher quality of life despite slightly lower salaries compared to national benchmarks. Employers in Racine, particularly top-tier consulting firms such as WSP and Stantec, tend to offer more competitive compensation, especially for those with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. The wide salary spectrum reflects factors like specialty expertise—such as structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineering—and the segregation between public-sector and private-sector roles. To maximize pay in this market, civil engineers should focus on obtaining professional licensure and seeking opportunities within industries experiencing growth due to infrastructure spending driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Racine, WI:
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 $94,390 for civil engineersin the Racine 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