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2026 Salary Data — Kansas City, MO
Updated April 28, 2026

Civil Engineer Salary in Kansas City: $91K Median

Civil Engineers in Kansas City, MO earn between $62K and $137K per year.

That's -5% below the US national median of $95,890 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City, MO is $91,096 per year — -5% below the US national median of $95,890. Salaries range from $61,750 (entry, 25th percentile) to $137,380 (90th percentile). Civil Engineers in Kansas City earned approximately $15,982 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$91,096
+470.0% YoY · $7,591/mo
Entry
$61,750
0–2 years
Experienced
$118,750
5+ years
Top 10%
$137,380
Senior/lead

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About Civil Engineers in Kansas City

Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure projects: roads, bridges, buildings, water systems, and more.

Core Responsibilities

  • Design infrastructure
  • Project management
  • Site inspection
  • Construction documents
  • Code compliance

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree (ABET); PE for senior roles

In-demand certifications

PE (Professional Engineer)LEEDPMPOSHA 30

Kansas City Job Market

Major logistics hub with growing tech presence.

Population
508K
Cost of Living
91
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.7%
Median Home
$270K

Top Industries in Kansas City

TechLogisticsFinanceHealthcareEngineering

Top Employers Hiring Civil Engineers

Major employers active in Kansas City or hiring remotely from this metro.

AECOM
Bechtel
Jacobs
Kiewit
Skanska
state DOTs
municipal governments

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Civil Engineer listings.

BIM (Revit)Sustainability/LEEDClimate-resilient designSmart citiesDrone surveying

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

AutoCADCivil 3Dproject managementstructural analysisPE licenseLEEDRevitsite planning
Career Outlook
+6% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034.

Civil Engineer Salary Breakdown — Kansas City

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$61,750$91,096$137,380
Monthly$5,146$7,591$11,448
Weekly$1,188$1,752$2,642
Hourly$30$44$66

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($95,890) adjusted for Kansas City's cost-of-living multiplier (0.95×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Civil Engineer Take-Home Pay in Kansas City

After federal, state, local, and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$68,102.524
Per month$5,675
Biweekly paycheck$2,619
Effective tax rate25.2%

Tax Breakdown on $91,096

Gross salary$91,096
Federal income tax$11,743.12
Missouri state tax$3,370.552
Kansas City local tax$910.96
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)$6,968.844
Take-home (net)$68,102.524

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Civil Engineer Salary by Experience — Kansas City

Career-stage progression for Civil Engineers in Kansas City.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$56,810
2–3 yr$61,750
4–6 yr$90,250
7–10 yr$118,750
11–15 yr$140,125
15+ yr$128,065

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Kansas City's 0.95× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$15,982
2026 median:$91,096
Change:+$75,114

Engineering sector growth driven by demand for BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$100,105
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Civil Engineer Salary in Kansas City

Walk-away anchor: $81,336 (offers below this are below market for Kansas City).

Leverage Points

  • PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly
  • Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects
  • Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base
  • Software-adjacent skills (Python, MATLAB, simulation, MLOps) raise the ceiling

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

PE license exam fees, study materials, review coursesRelocation package and temporary housingProject-completion or milestone bonusesPer-diem for site travel and field workTuition reimbursement for MS/PhD

What To Say

"With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus."

Anchor on $119K$137K for experienced roles, citing Kansas City market data and your specific BIM (Revit)/Sustainability/LEED expertise.

Civil Engineer Salary FAQ — Kansas City

What is the average Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City, MO?
The average Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City is $91,096 per year as of April 2026 — $7,591/month, $1,752/week, or about $44/hour. Salaries range from $61,750 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $137,380 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Kansas City's cost-of-living multiplier (0.95×).
Is $91,096 a good Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Kansas City's cost-of-living index is 91 (vs 100 nationally), giving $91,096 a real purchasing power of approximately $100,105 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $91,096 in Kansas City?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Kansas City specifically (median home price $270,000), a $91,096 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $91,096 enough for a single person in Kansas City?
A single adult in Kansas City typically needs ~$40,950 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $91,096 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $91,096 enough for a couple in Kansas City?
A couple (one earner) in Kansas City typically needs ~$65,520 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $91,096 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $91,096 each ($182,192 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $91,096 enough for a family of 4 in Kansas City?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Kansas City typically needs ~$100,100 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $91,096 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Kansas City. Childcare costs in Kansas City typically run $14K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Civil Engineer in Kansas City?
On a $91,096 Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City, MO, you take home approximately $68,102.524 per year ($5,675/month, $2,619 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $11,743.12, state $3,370.552, local $910.96, FICA $6,968.844. Effective tax rate: 25.2%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Civil Engineers in Kansas City earn compared to the US average?
Civil Engineers in Kansas City earn approximately 5% less than the US national median for this role ($95,890 nationally vs $91,096 in Kansas City). However, Kansas City's cost-of-living index of 91 means real purchasing power is approximately $100,105 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Civil Engineer earn in Kansas City?
Entry-level Civil Engineers in Kansas City typically start at around $61,750 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Civil Engineers earn $118,750 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $137,380+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Civil Engineer salaries in Kansas City increase in 2026?
Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Kansas City grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $15,982 in 2025 to $91,096 in 2026 (+$75,114). This reflects the broader Engineering sector's compensation trend, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.
What's the job outlook for Civil Engineers in Kansas City?
Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Kansas City's top industries include Tech, Logistics, Finance, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.7% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
What skills are most in demand for Civil Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Civil Engineers are: BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design, Smart cities, Drone surveying. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Kansas City.
Who are the top employers hiring Civil Engineers in Kansas City?
Top employers hiring Civil Engineers in or near Kansas City include: AECOM, Bechtel, Jacobs, Kiewit, Skanska, state DOTs. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City?
With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Key leverage points for Engineering negotiations: PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly; Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects; Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work.
How can I increase my Civil Engineer salary in Kansas City?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., PE (Professional Engineer) or LEED). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Civil Engineer in Kansas City?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); PE for senior roles is the typical path. However, Kansas City's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Engineering roles.

Methodology & Sources

Civil Engineer salary figures for Kansas City are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($95,890) by Kansas City's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.95× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

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