Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Wisconsin make a median of $94,600 a year, or about $45.48 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $100,286 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $95K get you in Wisconsin?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Civil engineers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $99K | +5% | 1,530 |
| Sheboygan | $97K | +2% | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $96K | +2% | 2,330 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $96K | +1% | 190 |
| Kenosha | $95K | +1% | 50 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $94K | -0% | 90 |
| Green Bay | $94K | -1% | 450 |
| Eau Claire | $93K | -1% | 190 |
| Appleton | $93K | -2% | 350 |
| Wausau | $86K | -9% | 90 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $86K | -9% | 150 |
| Fond du Lac | $83K | -12% | 130 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $83K | -13% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,055/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Wisconsin pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $94,600 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,590, and experienced civil engineers can clear $131,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,914/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 20.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil engineers salary go in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median civil engineers salary is worth about $100,286 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.