What the numbers say
Wisconsin's median wage for Civil Engineers was $90,770 in 2024, about 6% below the national median of $96,198. That gap is smaller than it looks once you account for the cost of living. Wisconsin's prices run roughly 7% below the national average, so after adjusting for what the money actually buys, the state's wages land close to parity with the national figure.
The spread between top and bottom earners is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $63,920, while those at the 90th earned $132,280. Top earners make about twice what entry-level peers take home. That kind of range usually points to real differences in seniority, specialization, and the type of projects someone works on, from municipal water systems to highway design to large-scale infrastructure.
The mean wage of $96,450 sits above the median by roughly $5,700. That tells us a smaller group of higher-paid engineers pull the average up. Most engineers in Wisconsin cluster below that mean figure.
BLS projects employment for Civil Engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, which it categorizes as faster than average. Wisconsin has about 7,050 Civil Engineers currently employed in the state, a sizeable base for a state this size.
Salary distribution
Where Wisconsin civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $75,770 and $107,890, with a median of $90,770.
Civil Engineers in Wisconsin: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 33 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $91,031. 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 | 11 | $69,222 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $89,818 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $97,926 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $135,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Wisconsin. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michels Construction, Inc. | Senior Project Engineer | 4 | $102,922 |
| J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. | Assistant Project Manager | 3 | $83,000 |
| Bloom Companies, LLC | Staff Engineer | 3 | $69,222 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineering III | 2 | $97,923 |
| Lakeside Engineers, LLC | Project Engineer | 2 | $73,072 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Construction Project Management | 2 | $184,750 |
| Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL INTERMEDIATE | 1 | $86,684 |
| Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc. | Project Engineer - Civil | 1 | $88,000 |
| Spann & Associates, LLC | Civil Structural Engineer - II | 1 | $94,120 |
| E80 Plus Constructors, LLC | Project Engineer | 1 | $66,914 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Project Manager at J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.$112,000MadisonDecided Dec 18, 2025I-200-25345-475098
- STRUCTURAL ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL INTERMEDIATE at Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.$86,684MILWAUKEEDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25323-419965
- Project Engineer at Bloom Companies, LLC$83,944MilwaukeeWage Level IDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-238860
- Project Engineer - Civil at Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc.$88,000MenomonieWage Level IIIDecided Jul 15, 2025I-200-25189-159296
- Civil Structural Engineer - II at Spann & Associates, LLC$94,120GermantownWage Level IIDecided Jul 14, 2025I-200-25188-155011
- Project Engineer at E80 Plus Constructors, LLC$66,914DeForestWage Level IDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-097780
- ENTRY LEVEL CIVIL ENGINEER at MT MAKALU CONSTRUCTION LLC$65,998APPLETONWage Level IDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-077271
- Civil Engineering III at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$97,920MiddletonWage Level IIIDecided Jun 12, 2025I-200-25156-057627
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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 16 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $83,944.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | Michels Construction, Inc. | 7 | $83,944 |
| Project Manager | J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. | 5 | $110,000 |
| Staff Engineer | Bloom Companies, LLC | 4 | $71,361 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in Wisconsin, by industry
Median offered wage across 21 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $82,584.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Bloom Companies, LLC | 16 | $82,584 |
| Manufacturing | BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. | 2 | $150,000 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 2 | $184,750 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin System | 1 | $91,031 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin metropolitan areas.
- Milwaukee$93,350
Compare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Wisconsin?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Wisconsin is $90,770.
- How does Wisconsin compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Wisconsin median is -5.6% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Wisconsin?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,920 and the 90th-percentile at $132,280, 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.