What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in Minnesota earned $101,440 in 2024, about 5% above the US median of $96,198. That gap is modest but real, and it holds up even after accounting for the cost of living.
Minnesota's cost-of-living index sits at 96.9, meaning prices here run slightly below the national baseline. In practical terms, a dollar earned in Minnesota buys a little more than a dollar earned in the average US state. That narrows the headline advantage slightly but does not erase it.
The spread across the pay range is worth noting. Civil Engineers at the 10th percentile earned around $69,910 in 2024, while those at the 90th percentile reached $150,730. Top earners make roughly 2.2 times what the lowest-paid engineers make. That kind of range usually reflects differences in experience, project scale, and specialization within the field, from entry-level site work to senior roles managing large infrastructure programs.
The mean annual wage of $106,880 runs about $5,400 above the median. A portion of higher-earning engineers pull the average up, but the gap between mean and median is not extreme, which suggests the pay distribution is fairly even across most of the field.
BLS projects employment for Civil Engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, which falls in the faster-than-average category. Minnesota's 4,350 employed civil engineers in 2024 place the state among the mid-size markets for this occupation nationally.
Salary distribution
Where Minnesota civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,810 and $130,150, with a median of $101,440.
Civil Engineers in Minnesota: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 47 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $76,446. 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 | 25 | $71,760 |
| Level II — qualified | 7 | $95,014 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $122,512 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $120,640 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Minnesota. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesabi Metallics Company LLC | Civil Engineer I (Construction) | 4 | $72,000 |
| EVS, Inc. | Engineering Associate I | 4 | $71,760 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineering III | 3 | $86,793 |
| WSP USA Inc. | Lead Consultant, Civil Engineering | 2 | $132,216 |
| Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. | Structural Engineer | 2 | $107,775 |
| Pavestone, LLC | Staff Civil Engineer | 2 | $73,381 |
| WSB LLC | Senior Graduate Engineer - Municipal | 2 | $87,027 |
| Barr Engineering Co. | Geotechnical Engineer | 2 | $75,653 |
| Pentangle Tech Services LLC | Mechanical Engineer | 2 | $120,640 |
| Meyer, Borgman & Johnson, Inc. | Steel Connection Engineer I | 2 | $71,760 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Project Lead, Late-Stage Projects at Geronimo Power, LLC$191,000BloomingtonDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-488622
- Lead Consultant, Civil Engineering at WSP USA Inc.$135,013MinneapolisWage Level IIIDecided Sep 4, 2025I-200-25239-271448
- Structural Engineer at Kiewit Engineering Group Inc.$120,000BloomingtonDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-246433
- Civil Engineering III at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$110,011MinneapolisWage Level IIIDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-137216
- Structural Engineer 1 at Black & Veatch Corporation$71,760BloomingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-041256
- Staff Civil Engineer at Pavestone, LLC$71,761MinneapolisWage Level IDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-042941
- Staff Civil Engineer at Pavestone, LLC$75,000BloomingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-035483
- Civil Engineer I (Construction) at Mesabi Metallics Company LLC$72,000NashwaukWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-026672
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 Minnesota
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 Minnesota
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 17 certified offers. The most common variant is Staff Civil Engineer at a median of $72,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Civil Engineer | Mesabi Metallics Company LLC | 8 | $72,000 |
| Structural Engineer | Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. | 5 | $75,998 |
| Project Engineer | SAMBATEK | 4 | $75,793 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Minnesota, by industry
Median offered wage across 39 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $74,859.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | EVS, Inc. | 29 | $74,859 |
| Energy and utilities | Mesabi Metallics Company LLC | 5 | $72,000 |
| Manufacturing | Pavestone, LLC | 4 | $81,578 |
| Government and public sector | Alliant Engineering, Inc. | 1 | $71,760 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Minnesota 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 Minnesota metropolitan areas.
- Minneapolis$102,190
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Minnesota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Minnesota is $101,440.
- How does Minnesota compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Minnesota median is +5.4% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Minnesota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $69,910 and the 90th-percentile at $150,730, 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.