What the numbers say
The median wage for Civil Engineers in Arkansas was $81,930 in 2024, about 15% below the national median of $96,198. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Arkansas has a cost-of-living index of 88.3, meaning prices here run roughly 12% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the $81,930 median stretches closer to $92,800 in national-baseline dollars. The gap with the US figure narrows to under 4%. For a civil engineer weighing a move or comparing offers across state lines, that difference matters.
The spread within the state is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $50,650 in 2024. Those at the 90th percentile earned $127,730. Top earners made about 2.5 times what those near the bottom did. That range reflects how much experience, specialization, and sector (public works versus private construction versus transportation) shape individual pay in this field.
Employment stood at 1,710 civil engineers across the state in 2024. BLS projects the occupation to grow faster than average nationally through 2034, at 5% over the decade. Arkansas infrastructure spending and ongoing highway and water system work are the kinds of projects that drive that demand locally, though the state-level projection is embedded in the national figure rather than published separately.
Salary distribution
Where Arkansas civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,400 and $100,810, with a median of $81,930.
Civil Engineers in Arkansas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 15 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $73,000. 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 | 3 | $83,392 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $68,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $96,782 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Arkansas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Department of Transportation | Civil Engineer (EI) | 4 | $68,000 |
| Michael Baker International, Inc. | Civil Associate I | 2 | $66,510 |
| Olsson, Inc. | Engineer | 2 | $88,696 |
| ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS INC | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER | 1 | $95,000 |
| Ryan Engineering, Inc | PROJECT ENGINEER | 1 | $96,782 |
| Mobley General Contractors Inc | Engineer | 1 | $78,000 |
| Welspun Pipes, Inc. | Field Engineer | 1 | $66,019 |
| Garver LLC | Project Engineer | 1 | $73,000 |
| Lithko Contracting, LLC | Field Engineer | 1 | $83,000 |
| MATERIALS TESTING OF ARKANSAS INC | STAFF ENGINEER | 1 | $55,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- STRUCTURAL ENGINEER at ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS INC$95,000LOWELLDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-391886
- PROJECT ENGINEER at Ryan Engineering, Inc$96,782FayettevilleWage Level IIIDecided Jul 18, 2025I-200-25192-170008
- Field Engineer at Arkansas Department of Transportation$73,000McGeheeWage Level IIDecided May 2, 2025I-200-25115-904477
- Civil Associate I at Michael Baker International, Inc.$66,019Little RockWage Level IIDecided May 1, 2025I-200-25114-899091
- Engineer at Mobley General Contractors Inc$78,000MorriltonWage Level IIDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25113-894917
- Field Engineer at Welspun Pipes, Inc.$66,019Little RockWage Level IIDecided Apr 28, 2025I-200-25111-885577
- Project Engineer at Garver LLC$73,000FayettevilleWage Level IIDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25102-858974
- Civil Associate II at Michael Baker International, Inc.$67,000Little RockWage Level IIDecided Apr 8, 2025I-200-25091-819475
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.
Civil Engineers pay by experience level in Arkansas
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 Arkansas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 7 certified offers. The most common variant is Engineer at a median of $80,696.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Olsson, Inc. | 4 | $80,696 |
| Field Engineer | Arkansas Department of Transportation | 3 | $73,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Arkansas, by industry
Median offered wage across 13 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $78,196.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Michael Baker International, Inc. | 8 | $78,196 |
| Government and public sector | Arkansas Department of Transportation | 4 | $68,000 |
| Manufacturing | Welspun Pipes, Inc. | 1 | $66,019 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Arkansas over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Arkansas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Arkansas is $81,930.
- How does Arkansas compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Arkansas median is -14.8% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Arkansas?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $50,650 and the 90th-percentile at $127,730, 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.