What the numbers say
Michigan's median wage for Civil Engineers came in at $85,550 in 2024, about 11% below the national median of $96,198. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Michigan's cost of living sits roughly 7% below the national average. Once you account for what the money actually buys, the effective gap narrows to something closer to 4%. A Civil Engineer earning the state median here has more purchasing power than the raw comparison suggests.
The spread across earners is worth noting. At the 10th percentile, wages start around $62,870. At the 90th, they reach $132,360. Top earners make about twice what entry-level peers do, a range that reflects real differences in experience, project complexity, and the kinds of employers doing the hiring. Michigan's manufacturing base, water infrastructure, and ongoing road and bridge work tend to draw civil engineers into public-sector and municipal roles, which often pay more modestly than large private-sector contracts in coastal metros.
The mean wage of $93,670 runs $8,120 above the median. A smaller group of senior engineers is pulling the average up, so the median is the more useful number for someone early in their career.
BLS projects employment for Civil Engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, faster than average across all occupations. Michigan had about 7,760 Civil Engineers employed as of 2024. Whether that growth rate translates to strong local hiring depends on state infrastructure funding over the next several years, something the projection does not pin down.
Salary distribution
Where Michigan civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $72,210 and $106,770, with a median of $85,550.
Civil Engineers in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 103 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $80,080. 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 | 37 | $65,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 33 | $81,800 |
| Level III — experienced | 18 | $96,840 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $120,058 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGC Global, Inc. | Project Engineer | 11 | $65,000 |
| Lakeshore Global Corporation | Project Engineer | 8 | $63,750 |
| Ghafari Associates LLC | Structural Engineer | 4 | $106,049 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineering III | 4 | $88,677 |
| DLZ Corporation | Civil Engineer I | 4 | $70,000 |
| Major Contracting Group, Inc. | Project Engineer | 3 | $62,379 |
| Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc. | Water/Wastewater Engineer | 2 | $82,784 |
| F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC | Project Engineer | 2 | $75,000 |
| The City of Detroit | Senior Associate Traffic Engineer | 2 | $89,165 |
| Colliers Engineering & Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Surveying, CTP.C. | Engineering Designer II | 2 | $82,159 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Water/Wastewater Engineer at Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc.$82,784Clinton TownshipDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-461080
- Project Engineer at F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC$75,000DetroitDecided Nov 21, 2025I-200-25318-410949
- Structural Engineer P.E. at Soils and Structures, Inc.$130,000Ann ArborDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-359034
- Project Engineer at J.S. Vig Construction Company$95,000PlymouthWage Level IIIDecided Sep 22, 2025I-200-25258-307998
- Structural Engineer at Ghafari Associates LLC$121,950DearbornWage Level IVDecided Sep 18, 2025I-200-25254-303477
- Senior Virtual Design Construction Engineer at Barton Malow Company$94,661SouthfieldWage Level IIIDecided Sep 16, 2025I-200-25252-296408
- Senior Associate Traffic Engineer at The City of Detroit$94,291DetroitWage Level IIDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-294004
- Principal Engineer at Sardonyx LLC$108,098LansingWage Level IVDecided Sep 4, 2025I-203-25239-270649
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 Michigan
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 Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 71 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $65,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | LGC Global, Inc. | 26 | $65,000 |
| Civil Engineer | LGC Global, Inc. | 21 | $78,850 |
| Structural Engineer | Ghafari Associates LLC | 6 | $99,955 |
| Traffic Engineer | The City of Detroit | 5 | $79,040 |
| Engineer | Sardonyx LLC | 5 | $108,098 |
| Civil Engineering | AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | 5 | $89,833 |
| Design Engineer | Spicer Group, Inc. | 3 | $80,080 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 67 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $82,100.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ghafari Associates LLC | 58 | $82,100 |
| Government and public sector | The City of Detroit | 2 | $89,165 |
| Energy and utilities | DTE Energy Resources, LLC | 2 | $102,385 |
| Manufacturing | Fabcon Precast, LLC | 2 | $87,815 |
| Technology and software | ANSYS, Inc. | 1 | $109,762 |
| Education | Michigan Technological University | 1 | $59,530 |
| Finance and insurance | Bedrock Management Services, LLC | 1 | $90,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan 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 Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$85,690
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Michigan is $85,550.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Michigan median is -11.1% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $62,870 and the 90th-percentile at $132,360, 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.