Are you considering a civil engineering career in Indiana, or looking to benchmark your current civil engineering compensation against the market?
We’ve conducted a comprehensive analysis of 553 civil engineering positions across Indiana to provide you with insider insights into the civil engineering salary landscape. This guide explores Civil Engineer Salary in Indiana and civil engineering wage trends, revealing the key factors that influence compensation in the Hoosier State.
Average Civil Engineer Salary in Indiana
The median civil engineering salary in Indiana is $117,000 USD per year or $56.25 USD per hour. This figure represents a strong benchmark for civil engineering salaries in the state and provides insight into how much civil engineers make in Indiana compared to other engineering disciplines.
Salary Range Overview
Here’s where it gets interesting: the pay range varies greatly (as much as $29,500), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of relevant work experience. This wide salary spectrum tells us that civil engineering in Indiana isn’t just a stable career choice, it’s one with significant upward mobility potential.
Factors Influencing Civil Engineer Salary
Educational Level
The education-salary relationship in Indiana reveals some surprising patterns.
The data reveals that while a bachelor’s degree dominates the market (65% of positions), pursuing advanced civil engineering degrees creates meaningful salary differentiation. What’s particularly noteworthy is that PhD holders earn approximately 27% more than bachelor’s degree holders, a premium that reflects the specialized expertise required for advanced research and development roles.
But here’s what’s really fascinating: the master’s degree premium is relatively modest at just 6% over bachelor’s degrees. This suggests that in Indiana’s civil engineering market, practical experience and professional certifications might deliver better ROI than immediately pursuing graduate school after your undergraduate civil engineering degree.
Years of Experience
The experience progression curve tells a compelling story. Entry-level engineers starting at $76,435 can expect steady growth, with the most significant acceleration occurring between years 2-3 where salaries jump nearly $8,400. This represents the critical transition from junior to intermediate level, a career milestone that significantly impacts how much a civil engineer makes as they develop project management skills and technical expertise.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 10.10% | 69 |
| 1 year | 5.12% | 35 |
| 2 years | 10.25% | 70 |
| 3 years | 10.40% | 71 |
| 4 years | 16.11% | 110 |
| 5 years | 22.11% | 151 |
| 6 years | 6.00% | 41 |
| 8 years | 10.54% | 72 |
What’s particularly encouraging is the consistent upward trajectory: there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of relevant work experience. By year 10, experienced civil engineers can expect to earn nearly double their starting salary.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to lead represents a remarkable 115% increase in civil engineering compensation, highlighting the value of developing both technical expertise and leadership capabilities in the civil engineering field. This data provides clear insight into the potential for career advancement and salary growth, including specialized roles such as project engineer, structural engineer, and engineering manager.
The jump from senior to principal level is relatively modest (2.7%), but the leap to management roles shows where the real money lies. Lead engineers command the highest salaries, suggesting that technical leadership, rather than pure management, is most valued in Indiana’s market.
Remote Work
One of the most interesting trends in our data is how work arrangements affect compensation:
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $122,730 | 102 |
| Remote | $113,125 | 11 |
| Onsite | $109,928 | 440 |
Hybrid workers earn approximately 12% more than their onsite counterparts, while fully remote positions, though limited, still command a premium over traditional office roles. This reflects the evolving nature of civil engineering work, where site visits remain crucial but much design and analysis work can be performed remotely.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Danville | $152,500 | $73.32 |
| Griffith | $143,750 | $69.12 |
| Remington | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Lebanon | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Munster | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Evansville | $120,000 | $57.69 |
| New Albany | $119,560 | $57.48 |
| Indianapolis | $117,701 | $56.59 |
| Cayuga | $117,000 | $56.25 |
| Fort Wayne | $115,953 | $55.75 |
Here’s a surprising finding: Danville leads with the highest civil engineering salaries in Indiana, offering significantly higher civil engineering wages than even Indianapolis, the state’s largest city. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a civil engineering role.
This geographic premium likely reflects several factors: smaller cities often struggle to attract technical talent, leading to salary premiums; local industries (like manufacturing or specialized infrastructure projects) may require specific expertise; and the cost-benefit analysis favors professionals willing to work in less densely populated areas.
Indianapolis, despite being the state capital and largest city, ranks in the middle tier at $117,701 annually. This suggests that there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience throughout the state, not just in major metropolitan areas.
Top Paying Companies in Indiana
Here are the companies that consistently offer above-average civil engineering salaries in Indiana:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| HNTB | $215,601 | $103.65 |
| Valdes Architecture & Engineering | $143,750 | $69.12 |
| SEH | $142,500 | $68.51 |
| AECOM | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| HDR | $135,203 | $65.00 |
| Commonwealth Engineers | $135,000 | $64.90 |
| ERM | $130,039 | $62.52 |
| BG Supply | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Hanson Professional Services | $126,875 | $61.00 |
| Jobs for Humanity | $125,000 | $60.10 |
HNTB stands out dramatically, offering nearly 85% more than the state median. This reflects the premium that large, national engineering consultancies pay for top talent. Top paying companies in nonresidential building construction and other sectors for civil engineers are Greeley and Hansen, American Structurepoint, and DLZ, indicating that specialized consulting firms consistently outpay general contractors and government agencies.
These organizations span diverse sectors including transportation infrastructure, environmental consulting, and specialized technical services, indicating strong demand for civil engineering expertise across multiple industries in Indiana.
How to Maximize Your Civil Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, here are proven strategies to optimize your civil engineering salary in Indiana:
- Target High-Paying Locations – Consider opportunities in Danville, Griffith, or Remington for 25-30% salary premiums
- Focus on the 2-3 Year Experience Mark – This represents the steepest salary acceleration phase
- Pursue Hybrid Work Arrangements – These positions consistently pay 10-15% above onsite roles
- Consider Specialized Consulting Firms – Companies like HNTB and AECOM offer significantly higher compensation than traditional employers
Technical Competencies:
- AutoCAD Civil 3D and design software proficiency
- Project management and leadership capabilities
- Environmental and sustainability engineering
- Transportation and infrastructure design
- Water resources and stormwater management
Explore our article detailing the most required Civil Engineering Skills in 2025
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 553 publicly available civil engineering positions across Indiana. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. For more detailed information, you may want to consult the ASCE salary calculator or ASCE salary report.
Conclusion
The civil engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Indiana, with median civil engineering salaries reaching $117,000 USD annually. While a civil engineering degree provides a foundation, our analysis shows that experience, location, and strategic career choices significantly influence civil engineer pay levels.
For civil engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, professional certification, and geographic flexibility is essential. The data clearly shows that Indiana’s civil engineering market rewards both technical expertise and leadership development, with multiple pathways to six-figure compensation.
Understanding salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive civil engineering wage packages and advance your career effectively in Indiana’s growing infrastructure sector. Resources like the ASCE salary calculator and ASCE salary report can provide additional insights into industry standards and help you benchmark your compensation.
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