What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in Louisiana earned $102,350 in 2024, about 6% above the US median of $96,198. That gap is modest, but the state's cost of living makes it more meaningful than it looks at first.
Louisiana's overall cost-of-living index sits at 92.4, meaning prices run roughly 8% below the national baseline. After adjusting for that difference, the effective purchasing power of the median wage here lands closer to $110,800 in national-dollar terms. A civil engineer in Louisiana is, in real terms, outearning most peers working in higher-cost states for a wage that looks similar on paper.
The spread between earners is wide. The bottom 10% earned around $67,680 in 2024, while the top 10% reached $149,590. That is a gap of roughly $82,000 between entry-level and senior positions. The 25th to 75th percentile range, $78,060 to $127,840, suggests the middle of the profession earns steadily, but specialization and seniority still make a large difference. Louisiana's concentration of work in energy infrastructure, coastal flood control, and port development creates demand for specialized engineers, which likely pushes wages at the upper end.
BLS projects employment for Civil Engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Louisiana's ongoing coastal restoration programs and flood-mitigation investment add a regional dimension to that outlook, though we report the national projection figure here.
Salary distribution
Where Louisiana civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $78,060 and $127,840, with a median of $102,350.
Civil Engineers in Louisiana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 44 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,285. 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 | $81,245 |
| Level II — qualified | 14 | $97,610 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $120,578 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $161,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Louisiana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Baker International, Inc. | Civil Engineer I | 4 | $97,219 |
| DPR Construction, A General Partnership | Project Engineer (Civil/Construction) | 4 | $83,772 |
| Johnson Brothers Corporation, a Southland Company | Field Engineer | 3 | $80,325 |
| M. A. Mortenson Company | Project Engineer I | 3 | $84,011 |
| Treviicos Corporation | Field Engineer | 2 | $74,000 |
| BONTON ASSOCIATES, LLC | PROJECT ENGINEER | 2 | $102,305 |
| GIS ENGINEERING, LLC | ENGINEERING INTERN | 2 | $81,994 |
| TAAL TECHNOLOGIES INC | Design Engineer | 2 | $103,449 |
| MOSS & ASSOCIATES, LLC | Project Engineer | 2 | $81,245 |
| Moffatt & Nichol | Marine Structural Engineer VI | 1 | $125,299 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Field Engineer at Johnson Brothers Corporation, a Southland Company$80,325Lake CharlesDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498781
- Marine Structural Engineer VI at Moffatt & Nichol$125,299New OrleansDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-397189
- Civil Engineer I at Michael Baker International, Inc.$97,219Baton RougeDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-388365
- LEAD CIVIL/STRUCTURAL DESIGNER at BRIS ENGINEERING, LLC$139,360Baton RougeDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-381949
- Civil Engineer I at Michael Baker International, Inc.$97,219Ste. 450Decided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-361136
- Project Engineer at Kiewit Energy Group, Inc.$172,812RayvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-366270
- Project Engineer (Civil/Construction) at DPR Construction, A General Partnership$87,568MonroeDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-360010
- Project Engineer I at Forgen, LLC$74,200CameronDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-341293
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 Louisiana
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 Louisiana
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 31 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $84,011.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | DPR Construction, A General Partnership | 13 | $84,011 |
| Civil Engineer | Michael Baker International, Inc. | 6 | $97,219 |
| Engineer 1 (Unlicensed) | Gresham Smith | 5 | $90,480 |
| Field Engineer | Johnson Brothers Corporation, a Southland Company | 4 | $74,000 |
| Structural Engineer | AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | 3 | $81,245 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Louisiana, by industry
Median offered wage across 27 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $97,219.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Michael Baker International, Inc. | 26 | $97,219 |
| Energy and utilities | Venture Global LNG, Inc. | 1 | $185,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Louisiana 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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Metro-level salary data for civil engineers in major Louisiana metropolitan areas.
- New Orleans$100,130
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Louisiana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Louisiana is $102,350.
- How does Louisiana compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Louisiana median is +6.4% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Louisiana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,680 and the 90th-percentile at $149,590, 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.