Civil Engineers in Alabama. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in Alabama earned $98,100 in 2024, about 2% above the US median of $96,198. That gap is modest, but Alabama's cost of living runs well below the national average. The state's overall price index sits at 87.3, meaning a dollar goes further here than in most of the country. In purchasing terms, that $98,100 is closer to $112,000 in national-baseline dollars, which puts Alabama-based civil engineers ahead of peers in higher-cost states earning similar nominal salaries.
Pay spreads wide across experience levels. The bottom 10% of civil engineers in Alabama earned around $64,640 in 2024. The top 10% earned $162,160. Top earners make about 2.5 times what entry-level peers make, a gap that reflects how much specialization and seniority matter in this field. Project managers, licensed PEs with decades on large infrastructure work, and those in niche disciplines like geotechnical or structural engineering tend to cluster near the higher end.
The mean annual wage of $104,270 sits $6,170 above the median. That tells us a smaller group of higher-paid engineers pulls the average up, so the median is the more useful reference point for anyone earlier in their career.
BLS projects employment for civil engineers to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. Alabama has a visible pipeline of infrastructure and transportation work that could support that pace, though actual hiring depends on state and federal funding cycles we cannot predict from this data alone.
Salary distribution
Where Alabama civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,750 and $128,900, with a median of $99,010.
Civil Engineers in Alabama: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 30 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $82,454. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 15 | $75,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $88,255 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $101,234 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 6 | $130,172 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Alabama. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayco, Inc. | Project Manager | 3 | $115,627 |
| The University of Alabama | Engineering Researcher II | 3 | $66,331 |
| APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. | STAFF CIVIL ENGINEER | 2 | $73,671 |
| Birmingham Industrial Construction | Civil Engineer | 2 | $81,000 |
| Yesac Corporation | Assistant Project Manager | 2 | $100,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineer I | 1 | $73,973 |
| American Industrial Construction, LLC | Project Engineer | 1 | $101,234 |
| Auburn University | Postdoctoral Fellow | 1 | $78,420 |
| Baker Concrete Construction, Inc. | Project Engineer | 1 | $69,680 |
| Bhate Geosciences Corporation | Staff Professional / Geotechnical Engineer | 1 | $62,150 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Project Engineer at Morris-Shea Bridge Company Inc.$155,000IrondaleWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726892
- Project Engineer at MORRIS-SHEA BRIDGE COMPANY INC.$155,000IrondaleWage Level IVDecided Mar 17, 2026I-200-26069-691644
- Project Manager at Clayco, Inc.$115,000BridgeportWage Level IVDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-651307
- Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Alabama$66,331TuscaloosaWage Level IDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25339-459605
- Research Engineer at The University of Alabama$66,331TuscaloosaWage Level IDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25329-435028
- Engineering Associate at Thompson Engineering, Inc$78,000MobileWage Level IDecided Nov 19, 2025I-201-25316-400415
- Engineering Researcher II at The University of Alabama$95,000TuscaloosaWage Level IDecided Oct 1, 2025I-200-25267-332579
- VDC Manager at Clayco, Inc.$115,627BridgeportWage Level IVDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-324483
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Civil Engineers pay by experience level in Alabama
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Civil Engineers specialties in Alabama
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 16 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $89,461.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | American Industrial Construction, LLC | 8 | $89,461 |
| Civil Engineer | APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. | 5 | $76,530 |
| Assistant Project Manager | Yesac Corporation | 3 | $100,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Alabama, by industry
Median offered wage across 15 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $76,530.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. | 11 | $76,530 |
| Education | The University of Alabama | 4 | $72,376 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Alabama over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 02
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 03
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- 04
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- 05
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- 06
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- 07
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- 08
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Alabama
Metro-level salary data for civil engineers in major Alabama metropolitan areas.
- Birmingham$97,420
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Alabama with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Alabama?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Alabama is $99,010.
- How does Alabama compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Alabama median is -3.4% versus the BLS national figure of $102,499.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Alabama?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,930 and the 90th-percentile at $168,370, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Civil Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Civil Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.