What the numbers say
Civil Engineers in Montana earned a median annual wage of $80,390 in 2024, about 16% below the US median of $96,198. The mean came in at $86,270, pulled up by a smaller group of senior engineers and specialists at the top of the range.
The spread across earners is wide. The bottom 10% earned around $58,840 while the top 10% reached $114,240. That gap reflects how much experience, project type, and technical specialization affect pay in this field. A mid-career engineer working on federal infrastructure contracts will land in a very different place than someone just out of licensure.
Montana's cost of living runs just below the national average, with an overall index of 96.8. After adjusting for that, the pay gap with the national median narrows somewhat. A dollar goes a bit further here than in states where civil engineering wages are higher on paper. The real difference is smaller than the headline figures suggest, though it does not disappear.
BLS projects 5% growth for civil engineers nationally between 2024 and 2034, rated faster than average. Montana's infrastructure workload, including roads, bridges, and water systems serving a geographically large and lightly staffed state, tends to track federal investment cycles closely. Employment totaled 1,880 in 2024, a relatively small pool that can shift noticeably when a large project comes online or wraps up.
Salary distribution
Where Montana civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,340 and $101,190, with a median of $80,390.
Civil Engineers in Montana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 7 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $81,600. 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 | 2 | $64,504 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $81,589 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $87,155 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Montana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty Foundation Systems, LLC | Foundation Engineer | 2 | $87,155 |
| American Bridge Company | Project Controls Engineer | 1 | $145,751 |
| EVI International Inc. | Topographical Engineer | 1 | $81,578 |
| STAHLY ENGINEERING & ASSOCIATES | Civil Engineer | 1 | $60,008 |
| PCL Construction Services, Inc. | Project Engineer II | 1 | $81,600 |
| IMEG Consultants Corp. | Civil Engineering Graduate- Designer 2 | 1 | $69,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Project Controls Engineer at American Bridge Company$145,751WhitefishDecided Nov 26, 2025I-200-25323-422099
- Topographical Engineer at EVI International Inc.$81,578WhitefishWage Level IIDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-076706
- Civil Engineer at STAHLY ENGINEERING & ASSOCIATES$60,008BozemanWage Level IDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-924652
- Foundation Engineer at Specialty Foundation Systems, LLC$87,155BillingsWage Level IIIDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-922048
- Project Engineer II at PCL Construction Services, Inc.$81,600Big SkyWage Level IIDecided May 6, 2025I-200-25119-916128
- Foundation Engineer at Specialty Foundation Systems, LLC$87,155BillingsWage Level IIIDecided Apr 29, 2025I-200-25112-891030
- Civil Engineering Graduate- Designer 2 at IMEG Consultants Corp.$69,000BillingsWage Level IDecided Mar 17, 2025I-200-25069-761455
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 Montana
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.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Montana 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Montana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Montana is $80,390.
- How does Montana compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Montana median is -16.4% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Montana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,840 and the 90th-percentile at $114,240, 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.