Are you considering a civil engineering career in Idaho, or looking to benchmark your current engineering salary against the market?
We’ve conducted a comprehensive analysis of 271 civil engineering positions across Idaho to provide you with detailed insights into the civil engineering salary landscape. This article explores Civil Engineer Salary in Idaho and Civil Engineer wage trends 2025, examining how much civil engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Idaho
The median civil engineering salary in Idaho is $125,000 USD annually or $60.1 USD per hour. This figure significantly outpaces many national averages and provides excellent insight into how much civil engineers make in Idaho. Our data reveals a thriving market for civil engineering professionals in the Gem State.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Salaries
Educational Level
Education Requirements Distribution
The Master’s Degree Advantage: Here’s a career insight that might surprise you – pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering can boost your salary by approximately 29% compared to a bachelor’s degree. The $33,158 annual difference represents a compelling return on investment for advanced education.
But what if you’re already working with a civil engineering degree at the bachelor’s level? The data suggests that nearly 70% of positions only require an undergraduate degree, meaning you can build substantial relevant work experience while deciding whether to pursue graduate education. This creates a strategic decision point: gain experience first or invest in education upfront.
Years of Experience
Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
---|---|---|
0 years | 13.16% | 25 |
1 year | 2.63% | 5 |
2 years | 4.74% | 9 |
3 years | 15.79% | 30 |
4 years | 11.05% | 21 |
5 years | 27.37% | 52 |
8 years | 11.05% | 21 |
12 years | 5.26% | 10 |
15 years | 5.79% | 11 |
Civil Engineer Salary by Years of Experience
The Experience Sweet Spot: The data reveals a compelling story about career progression. Notice the significant jump between years 2 and 3 – a remarkable 11% increase. But here’s the real insight: the most dramatic salary acceleration occurs between years 3 and 4, where compensation jumps by nearly 18%.
This suggests that the transition from junior to intermediate level (around year 3-4) represents a critical career milestone for civil engineers in Idaho. It’s at this point that professionals typically gain project leadership responsibilities and develop specialized expertise that commands premium compensation.
Remote Work
An interesting trend in 2025 is how work arrangements impact civil engineering salaries:
Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
---|---|---|
Hybrid | $131,713 | 87 |
Onsite | $118,610 | 162 |
Remote | $108,503 | 5 |
The Hybrid Premium: Surprisingly, hybrid positions command the highest average salaries – about 11% more than traditional onsite roles. This likely reflects companies’ willingness to pay premium compensation for roles that require both field presence and office-based design work, attracting top talent with flexible arrangements.
Seniority Level
The Leadership Multiplier: The progression from entry-level to executive represents a staggering 224% increase in compensation. This dramatic range illustrates the exceptional earning potential for civil engineers who develop leadership capabilities and advance into management roles.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the relatively small gap between Senior ($145,889) and Lead ($142,512) positions, suggesting that technical expertise and leadership skills are valued similarly in the Idaho market.
Location
City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
---|---|---|
Twin Falls | $237,500 | $114.18 |
McCall | $143,500 | $68.99 |
Lewiston | $138,677 | $66.67 |
Ada County | $137,500 | $66.11 |
Coeur d’Alene | $131,372 | $63.16 |
Idaho Falls | $128,917 | $61.98 |
Meridian | $127,504 | $61.30 |
Boise | $123,157 | $59.21 |
Pocatello | $97,625 | $46.94 |
Kuna | $95,000 | $45.67 |
The Twin Falls Phenomenon: Twin Falls leads with exceptionally high civil engineering salaries, likely driven by specialized infrastructure projects and limited local talent supply. This aligns with broader market observations where cities like Lewiston and Pocatello also offer above-average compensation, creating excellent opportunities for economic advancement through strategic location choices.
Cost of Living Considerations: The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Civil Engineer role. While Boise offers strong salaries at $123,157, smaller cities like McCall and Lewiston provide comparable compensation with potentially lower living costs.
Top Paying Companies in Idaho
Idaho’s civil engineering market features diverse employers offering competitive compensation packages:
Highest Paying Employers
Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
---|---|---|
Glanbia | $237,500 | $114.18 |
AECOM | $166,250 | $79.93 |
DKS Associates | $158,050 | $75.98 |
Merrick & Company | $147,882 | $71.10 |
Jacobs | $146,386 | $70.38 |
Haley & Aldrich | $142,500 | $68.51 |
HDR | $129,696 | $62.35 |
WSP in the U.S. | $129,130 | $62.08 |
Enercon Services | $129,000 | $62.02 |
McMillen Jacobs Associates | $127,889 | $61.49 |
Industry Diversity: These organizations span multiple sectors including food processing (Glanbia), major engineering consultancies (AECOM, Jacobs, HDR), and specialized technical services. This diversity indicates strong demand for civil engineering expertise across various industries in Idaho, including nonresidential building construction.
The Consultancy Advantage: Large engineering consultancies like AECOM, Jacobs, and HDR consistently offer above-average salaries, likely due to their involvement in complex, high-value infrastructure projects and their ability to offer career advancement opportunities across multiple offices.
How to Maximize Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, here are strategic recommendations to optimize your civil engineering salary in Idaho:
Education Strategy
- Strategic Master’s Degree Investment – The 29% salary premium for master’s degrees represents excellent ROI
- Professional Engineer (PE) License – Essential for advancement beyond mid-level positions
- Specialized Certifications – Focus on areas like environmental engineering, structural design, or project management
Experience Optimization
- Target the 3-4 Year Milestone – The most significant salary acceleration occurs at this career stage
- Seek Project Leadership Early – Positions requiring leadership responsibilities command premium pay
- Consider Hybrid Opportunities – These roles offer the highest average compensation
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential in Idaho, with the median civil engineering salary reaching $125,000 USD annually – significantly above national averages. The substantial salary range variation suggests numerous opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
For civil engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining advanced education, targeted skill development, and smart geographic positioning is essential. The data clearly shows that experience matters tremendously, with the 3-4 year mark representing a critical inflection point for salary acceleration.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance, Idaho’s civil engineering market offers compelling opportunities across diverse industries and locations. Understanding these salary trends and positioning yourself strategically will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and build a rewarding career in the Gem State.
The data presented in this article was compiled through a comprehensive analysis of 271 publicly available civil engineering positions across Idaho. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. Our findings align with and expand upon the ASCE salary report, providing a more detailed look at the Idaho market specifically.