What the numbers say
Civil Engineers in New Hampshire earned a median annual wage of $92,020 in 2024, about 4.3% below the US median of $96,198. That gap is narrow by state-level standards. New Hampshire is a smaller market with roughly 1,670 civil engineers employed, and wages in smaller state labor markets often run close to, but slightly under, national figures.
The spread between bottom and top earners is worth noting. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $60,800, while those at the 90th earned $133,100. Top earners made about 2.2 times what the lowest-paid engineers made. That kind of range usually reflects differences in years of experience, project scale, and whether someone works for a public agency or a private firm.
New Hampshire's cost of living runs about 5.6% above the national average. Adjusting for that, the $92,020 median translates to closer to $87,000 in national-baseline purchasing terms. After that adjustment, the gap with the US median widens to roughly 9.5%. Residents of the state face higher housing and services costs that the headline wage does not fully offset.
On the outlook side, BLS projects civil engineering jobs to grow faster than average between 2024 and 2034, with a national growth rate of 5%. Infrastructure investment at the federal and state level is the main driver BLS points to. New Hampshire's own transportation and water infrastructure has aging components, which tends to sustain local demand for the role over time.
The mean annual wage of $94,210 sits above the median, which tells us a smaller group of senior engineers pulls the average up. For most people entering or mid-way through this career in New Hampshire, $92,020 is the more realistic reference point.
Salary distribution
Where New Hampshire civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $72,790 and $109,500, with a median of $92,020.
Civil Engineers in New Hampshire: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 5 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $72,800. 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 | 3 | $69,160 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $81,224 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $109,304 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in New Hampshire. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDM Smith Inc. | Environmental Engineer 2 | 1 | $81,224 |
| ROSS ENGINEERING LLC | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER | 1 | $72,800 |
| Atlantic Bridge & Engineering, Inc | Steel Detailer/Drafter [00082514] | 1 | $69,160 |
| University of New Hampshire | Post-Doctoral - Civil and Environmental Engineering | 1 | $68,640 |
| Gannett Fleming, Inc. | Sr. Operations Analyst, Transit and Rail | 1 | $109,304 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Environmental Engineer 2 at CDM Smith Inc.$81,224ManchesterWage Level IIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-997978
- STRUCTURAL ENGINEER at ROSS ENGINEERING LLC$72,800PORTSMOUTHWage Level IDecided Apr 11, 2025I-200-25094-832392
- Steel Detailer/Drafter [00082514] at Atlantic Bridge & Engineering, Inc$69,160CandiaWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2025I-200-25079-790327
- Post-Doctoral - Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of New Hampshire$68,640DurhamWage Level IDecided Feb 10, 2025I-200-25034-660699
- Sr. Operations Analyst, Transit and Rail at Gannett Fleming, Inc.$109,304MerrimackWage Level IVDecided Nov 22, 2024I-200-24320-478292
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 New Hampshire
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 in New Hampshire, by industry
Median offered wage across 4 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $81,224.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | CDM Smith Inc. | 3 | $81,224 |
| Education | University of New Hampshire | 1 | $68,640 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in New Hampshire is $92,020.
- How does New Hampshire compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The New Hampshire median is -4.3% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in New Hampshire?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $60,800 and the 90th-percentile at $133,100, 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.