Civil Engineers in Louisiana. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
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 $78,770 and $127,940, with a median of $105,380.
Civil Engineers in Louisiana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 54 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,574. 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 | 22 | $80,785 |
| Level II — qualified | 19 | $97,219 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $120,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $154,906 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPR Construction, A General Partnership | Project Engineer (Civil/Construction) | 4 | $83,772 |
| Michael Baker International, Inc. | Civil Engineer I | 4 | $97,219 |
| Modjeski and Masters, Inc. | Engineer in Training, E2 | 4 | $90,667 |
| Johnson Brothers Corporation, a Southland Company | Field Engineer | 3 | $80,325 |
| M. A. Mortenson Company | MEP Project Engineer II | 3 | $84,011 |
| BONTON ASSOCIATES, LLC | PROJECT ENGINEER | 2 | $102,305 |
| Forgen, LLC | Project Engineer | 2 | $76,953 |
| GIS ENGINEERING, LLC | ENGINEER | 2 | $81,994 |
| Gresham Smith | Engineer 1 (Unlicensed) | 2 | $80,476 |
| MOSS & ASSOCIATES, LLC | Project Engineer | 2 | $81,245 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Associate - 4 at Louisiana State University and A&M College$88,546Baton RougeWage Level IIDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-721556
- Lead Engineer Water Resources at Royal Engineers & Consultants, LLC$120,000New OrleansWage Level IIIDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26083-724151
- Engineering (Unlicensed) at Gresham Smith$79,706Baton RougeWage Level IDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-710438
- Earthworks Field Engineer - Night Shift at Bechtel Energy, Inc.$118,320SulphurWage Level IIIDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-696273
- Project Engineer at Forgen, LLC$79,706DonaldsonvilleWage Level IDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685891
- Engineer 3 Structures at Modjeski and Masters, Inc.$107,994New OrleansWage Level IIIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-666941
- Engineer in Training, E2 at Modjeski and Masters, Inc.$90,667New OrleansWage Level IIDecided Mar 4, 2026I-200-26056-663831
- Engineer in Training, E2 at Modjeski and Masters, Inc.$90,667New OrleansWage Level IIDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-661061
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 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 36 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $83,907.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | DPR Construction, A General Partnership | 14 | $83,907 |
| Civil Engineer | Michael Baker International, Inc. | 6 | $97,219 |
| Engineer | A P S Engineering and Testing, LLC | 6 | $90,285 |
| Field Engineer | Johnson Brothers Corporation, a Southland Company | 4 | $74,000 |
| Engineer in Training, E2 | Modjeski and Masters, Inc. | 3 | $90,667 |
| Senior 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 37 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. | 35 | $97,219 |
| Education | Louisiana State University and A&M College | 1 | $88,546 |
| 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 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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Metro-level salary data for civil engineers in major Louisiana metropolitan areas.
- New Orleans$108,240
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Louisiana with another state
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 $105,380.
- How does Louisiana compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Louisiana median is +2.8% versus the BLS national figure of $102,499.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Louisiana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,570 and the 90th-percentile at $156,610, 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.