Civil Engineers in Michigan. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
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 $75,470 and $109,870, with a median of $92,100.
Civil Engineers in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 121 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $81,000. 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 | 46 | $65,666 |
| Level II — qualified | 41 | $83,065 |
| Level III — experienced | 23 | $98,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 10 | $114,910 |
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 |
| Walbridge Aldinger, L.L.C. | Project Coordinator | 6 | $77,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineering III | 4 | $88,677 |
| DLZ Corporation | Civil Engineer I | 4 | $70,000 |
| Ghafari Associates LLC | Structural Engineer | 4 | $106,049 |
| FAIRWAY ENGINEERING LLC | Civil Project Engineer | 3 | $95,680 |
| Major Contracting Group, Inc. | Project Engineer | 3 | $62,379 |
| The City of Detroit | Associate Traffic Engineer | 3 | $89,024 |
| Alfred Benesch & Company | Project Engineer I (Structural Engineer) | 2 | $124,176 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Structural Engineer at WSP USA Inc.$103,896DetroitWage Level IIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-718745
- Project Estimator at Ideal Contracting L.L.C.$84,263DetroitWage Level IIDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705759
- Research Assistant Professor at Michigan Technological University$66,331HoughtonWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-698413
- Associate Traffic Engineer at The City of Detroit$89,024DetroitWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685813
- Land Development Project Manager at Bedrock Management Services, LLC$100,000DetroitWage Level IIDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-683306
- Project Engineer I (Structural Engineer) at Alfred Benesch & Company$108,160East LansingWage Level IIDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-680109
- Project Coordinator at Walbridge Aldinger, L.L.C.$77,000SalineWage Level IDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-677978
- Engineer, Professional Development at American Concrete Institute$104,500Farmington HillsWage Level IIIDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-669538
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 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 88 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $74,192.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | LGC Global, Inc. | 29 | $74,192 |
| Civil Engineer | LGC Global, Inc. | 23 | $77,000 |
| Structural Engineer | Ghafari Associates LLC | 8 | $97,022 |
| Engineer | Amentum Technology Inc. | 7 | $106,698 |
| Associate Traffic Engineer | The City of Detroit | 6 | $81,539 |
| Civil Engineering | AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | 5 | $89,833 |
| Project Coordinator | Walbridge Aldinger, L.L.C. | 4 | $77,000 |
| Project Manager | BASCO OF MICHIGAN, INC. | 3 | $95,680 |
| 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 77 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $83,065.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | 65 | $83,065 |
| Government and public sector | The City of Detroit | 3 | $89,024 |
| Finance and insurance | Bedrock Management Services, LLC | 2 | $95,000 |
| Education | Michigan Technological University | 2 | $62,930 |
| Manufacturing | Fabcon Precast, LLC | 2 | $87,815 |
| Energy and utilities | DTE Energy Corporate Services, LLC | 2 | $102,385 |
| Technology and software | ANSYS, Inc. | 1 | $109,762 |
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 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 Michigan
Metro-level salary data for civil engineers in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$92,550
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Michigan with another state
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 $92,100.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Michigan median is -10.1% versus the BLS national figure of $102,499.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,920 and the 90th-percentile at $130,400, 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.