Are you considering a civil engineering career in Kansas, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 268 civil engineering positions across Kansas to provide insights into the civil engineering compensation landscape. This article details the Civil Engineer Salary in Kansas for 2025, exploring how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Kansas
The median Kansas civil engineer salary is $114,578.50 USD per year or $55.09 USD per hour.This figure provides insight into how much do civil engineers make in Kansas and serves as a benchmark for the civil engineering salary in the state. What’s particularly encouraging is that this median significantly exceeds many national benchmarks for entry-level positions, suggesting Kansas offers competitive compensation for civil engineering professionals.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Pay
Educational Level
The data reveals a compelling story about the value of advanced education in civil engineering. While a bachelor’s degree forms the foundation for most positions, pursuing a master’s degree can lead to a notable 13% increase in compensation. This $14,709 annual difference translates to meaningful long-term career value, particularly when you consider the compounding effect over a decades-long civil engineering career.
Education Requirements Distribution
Civil engineering positions in Kansas predominantly require a civil engineering degree at the bachelor’s level, with over 71% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement.
However, the data shows that nearly a quarter of positions prefer or require a master’s degree, suggesting strong demand for advanced expertise. The small but notable presence of PhD-level positions (3.72%) indicates opportunities for those interested in research, specialized consulting, or leadership roles in complex infrastructure projects.
What this means for your career: If you’re early in your career or considering graduate school, the ROI on a master’s degree in civil engineering appears solid in Kansas. The 13% salary premium, combined with potentially better job security and advancement opportunities, makes advanced education a strategic investment.
Years of Experience
The experience progression data tells a fascinating story about career development in Kansas civil engineering. The most significant salary jump occurs between years 1 and 2, where compensation increases by nearly $18,000 (19%). This suggests that the transition from true entry-level to someone with basic relevant work experience represents a critical career milestone.
However, there’s an interesting dip at the 3-year mark that deserves attention. This could reflect market dynamics where many engineers at this experience level are job-hunting and may accept positions below their peak earning potential, or it might indicate a temporary plateau as professionals transition from junior to mid-level responsibilities.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 9.48% | 20 |
| 1 year | 5.69% | 12 |
| 2 years | 5.69% | 12 |
| 3 years | 17.54% | 37 |
| 4 years | 14.22% | 30 |
| 5 years | 26.07% | 55 |
| 6 years | 6.64% | 14 |
| 8 years | 9.48% | 20 |
The 7-year breakthrough: Perhaps most remarkably, engineers with 7 years of experience see their salaries jump to over $153,000—a 34% increase from the previous experience level. This suggests that senior-level expertise commands premium compensation in Kansas’s civil engineering market.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to executive represents a 77% increase in compensation, highlighting the substantial value of experience and leadership capabilities in the civil engineering field. This data provides insights into the potential for career advancement and salary growth in the profession, including roles such as project engineer, senior engineer, and engineering manager.
What’s particularly encouraging is that even entry-level positions in Kansas start at nearly $88,000—well above the national averages we see reported elsewhere. This suggests that Kansas has a robust civil engineering market with strong demand for talent at all levels.
Work Arrangement
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Remote | $125,000 | 5 |
| Hybrid | $117,976 | 78 |
| Onsite | $111,063 | 185 |
Here’s a trend that reflects the post-pandemic employment landscape: remote work commands a premium in civil engineering. While the sample size for fully remote positions is small (only 5 positions), the $14,000 salary advantage over onsite work is noteworthy. Hybrid arrangements also show a premium of nearly $7,000 over traditional onsite roles.
The reality check: Most civil engineering work still requires physical presence—you can’t inspect a bridge foundation or oversee construction via Zoom. However, roles focused on design, analysis, permitting, and project management increasingly offer flexible arrangements, and these tend to be higher-paying positions.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Junction City | $155,605 | $74.81 |
| Lawrence | $150,250 | $72.24 |
| Olathe | $142,704 | $68.61 |
| Lenexa | $131,502 | $63.22 |
| Oswego | $123,750 | $59.50 |
| Kansas City | $123,579 | $59.41 |
| Wichita | $119,450 | $57.43 |
| Overland Park | $104,057 | $50.03 |
| McPherson | $102,500 | $49.28 |
| Salina | $100,100 | $48.12 |
| Manhattan | $97,500 | $46.88 |
| La Crosse | $96,442 | $46.37 |
| Independence | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Topeka | $57,200 | $27.50 |
Junction City, surprisingly, leads with the highest civil engineer salaries in Kansas, offering significantly higher civil engineering wages than even major metropolitan areas. This may be attributed to Kansas being the heart of farm country where economic survival of rural communities depends on reliable infrastructure, combined with proximity to Fort Riley and specialized infrastructure projects requiring premium engineering expertise.
Lawrence follows closely, likely benefiting from the University of Kansas presence and associated research and development projects. The Kansas City metro area (including Olathe and Lenexa) shows consistently strong compensation, reflecting the region’s diverse economy and major infrastructure investments.
Geographic strategy insight: Recent developments in renewable energy have seen wind energy production increase to 39% of overall energy production in Kansas, and the state’s diverse inventory of energy infrastructure will need to expand and upgrade. This creates particular opportunities in cities with energy sector presence, including nonresidential building construction projects related to energy infrastructure.
Top Paying Companies in Kansas
Here are the companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for civil engineers in Kansas, representing some of the highest paying civil engineering jobs in the state:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| HDR | $163,413 | $78.56 |
| Climate Finance Advisors (WSP) | $155,605 | $74.81 |
| Jacobs | $150,250 | $72.24 |
| Parsons | $142,063 | $68.30 |
| Arcadis | $140,037 | $67.32 |
| Jobs via Dice | $135,000 | $64.90 |
| ERM | $130,039 | $62.52 |
| Jobot | $127,500 | $61.30 |
| Prairie Engineers | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| The Engineering Shedd | $123,750 | $59.50 |
| Matrix Technologies | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Kiewit | $114,611 | $55.10 |
| Stantec | $114,550 | $55.07 |
| TranSystems | $111,440 | $53.58 |
| Black & Veatch | $107,779 | $51.82 |
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including engineering consultancies, environmental services, infrastructure development, and specialized technical services. HDR leads the pack with compensation exceeding $163,000 annually—a testament to the value placed on top-tier engineering talent in complex infrastructure projects.
Company culture insight: Several of these top-paying firms have notable reputations for employee satisfaction. For example, firms like Affinis have been recognized as employers of choice by CE News Magazine and named “Best Firm to Work for in Civil Engineering” by the Zweig Group multiple times, suggesting that high compensation often correlates with positive work environments.
Industry sector analysis: The prevalence of environmental consulting firms (ERM, Climate Finance Advisors) and major infrastructure companies (HDR, Jacobs, Parsons) reflects Kansas’s focus on sustainable development and large-scale infrastructure modernization, areas where specialized expertise commands premium compensation.
How to Maximize Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your civil engineering compensation in Kansas:
Strategic Career Development
- Pursue Advanced Education Strategically – While a bachelor’s degree opens doors, a master’s degree can boost your earning potential by 13% ($14,700+ annually)
- Target the 2-Year Experience Mark – The most significant salary increase occurs between years 1-2 of experience
- Consider Geographic Opportunities – Cities like Junction City and Lawrence offer premium compensation packages that can exceed metro area salaries
- Develop Leadership Skills – Progression to senior and executive roles offers the highest compensation potential, with executive positions averaging $155,000+
- Embrace Flexible Work Arrangements – Remote and hybrid positions command salary premiums where applicable
Key Skills to Develop
Explore our detailed article on the Civil Engineering Skills Required in 2025
Industry Context Understanding
Why certain companies pay more: Government investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the CHIPS Act continue to drive growth in manufacturing and energy sectors. Companies positioned to capitalize on these federal investments—particularly those involved in renewable energy, manufacturing facilities, and digital infrastructure—can afford to pay premium salaries for skilled engineers.
Kansas-specific opportunities: Kansas has 4,700 miles of railroad track moving 340 million tons of freight, with forecasted traffic increases. The railroad industry provides $5 billion in economic benefit to Kansas, creating ongoing demand for transportation and logistics engineering expertise.
Future Trends in Civil Engineering Salaries
Market Outlook
The global civil engineering market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2024 to 2030, driven by infrastructure modernization needs and federal investment programs. For Kansas specifically, this growth trajectory is supported by the state’s strategic position in America’s transportation network and growing renewable energy sector.
Salary implications: Engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium salaries as Kansas industries compete for talent with specialized knowledge. The shortage of midlevel and senior-level civil engineers, combined with big dips in engineering graduates from previous decades, means companies struggle to replace retiring senior staff, potentially driving up compensation for experienced professionals.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Kansas, with the median civil engineer salary reaching $114,578.50 USD annually. While a civil engineering degree provides a foundation, relevant work experience and specialization significantly influence salary levels. Location choices and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation.
For civil engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, professional certification, and leadership capabilities is essential. The data suggests that Kansas offers a particularly robust market for civil engineering professionals, with compensation levels that exceed national averages and strong growth prospects driven by infrastructure investment and renewable energy development.
Understanding salary trends and labor market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively in Kansas’s evolving civil engineering landscape. Whether you’re just starting your civil engineering career or looking to boost your civil engineering compensation, the opportunities in Kansas are promising for those who strategically position themselves in this dynamic field.
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