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2026 Salary Data — Wichita, KS
Updated April 28, 2026

Civil Engineer Salary in Wichita: $82K Median

Civil Engineers in Wichita, KS earn between $55K and $123K per year.

That's -15% below the US national median of $95,890 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Civil Engineer salary in Wichita, KS is $81,507 per year — -15% below the US national median of $95,890. Salaries range from $55,250 (entry, 25th percentile) to $122,919 (90th percentile). Civil Engineers in Wichita earned approximately $14,299 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$81,507
+470.0% YoY · $6,792/mo
Entry
$55,250
0–2 years
Experienced
$106,250
5+ years
Top 10%
$122,919
Senior/lead
Civil Engineer Salary — Wichita vs Nearby
Wichita
$82K
El Paso
$82K
+0% vs Wichita
Tulsa
$84K
-3% vs Wichita
Memphis
$84K
-3% vs Wichita

Free ATS scan · Wichita employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Civil Engineers in Wichita

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

Wichita Job Market

Aerospace manufacturing capital ("Air Capital of the World").

Population
397K
Cost of Living
86
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.6%
Median Home
$180K

Top Industries in Wichita

Aerospace (Spirit, Cessna)HealthcareManufacturingEnergy

Top Employers Hiring Civil Engineers

Major employers active in Wichita 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 — Wichita

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$55,250$81,507$122,919
Monthly$4,604$6,792$10,243
Weekly$1,063$1,567$2,364
Hourly$27$39$59

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($95,890) adjusted for Wichita's cost-of-living multiplier (0.85×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Civil Engineer Take-Home Pay in Wichita

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$61,399.81
Per month$5,117
Biweekly paycheck$2,362
Effective tax rate24.7%

Tax Breakdown on $81,507

Gross salary$81,507
Federal income tax−$9,633.54
Kansas state tax−$4,238.364
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$6,235.286
Take-home (net)$61,399.81

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 — Wichita

Career-stage progression for Civil Engineers in Wichita.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$50,830
2–3 yr$55,250
4–6 yr$80,750
7–10 yr$106,250
11–15 yr$125,375
15+ yr$114,585

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Wichita's 0.85× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$14,299
2026 median:$81,507
Change:+$67,208

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

Is This A Good Salary?

Solid above median

Real purchasing power lands comfortably above the national middle-class threshold once cost of living is factored in. Homeownership and meaningful retirement savings are achievable on a single income.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$94,776
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Civil Engineer Salary in Wichita

Walk-away anchor: $72,774 (offers below this are below market for Wichita).

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 $106K–$123K for experienced roles, citing Wichita market data and your specific BIM (Revit)/Sustainability/LEED expertise.

Civil Engineer Salary FAQ — Wichita

What is the average Civil Engineer salary in Wichita, KS?
The average Civil Engineer salary in Wichita is $81,507 per year as of April 2026 — $6,792/month, $1,567/week, or about $39/hour. Salaries range from $55,250 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $122,919 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Wichita's cost-of-living multiplier (0.85×).
Is $81,507 a good Civil Engineer salary in Wichita?
Solid above median. Real purchasing power lands comfortably above the national middle-class threshold once cost of living is factored in. Homeownership and meaningful retirement savings are achievable on a single income. Wichita's cost-of-living index is 86 (vs 100 nationally), giving $81,507 a real purchasing power of approximately $94,776 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $81,507 in Wichita?
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 Wichita specifically (median home price $180,000), a $81,507 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $81,507 enough for a single person in Wichita?
A single adult in Wichita typically needs ~$38,700 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $81,507 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $81,507 enough for a couple in Wichita?
A couple (one earner) in Wichita typically needs ~$61,920 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $81,507 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $81,507 each ($163,014 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $81,507 enough for a family of 4 in Wichita?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Wichita typically needs ~$94,600 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $81,507 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 Wichita. Childcare costs in Wichita typically run $13K-$24K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Civil Engineer in Wichita?
On a $81,507 Civil Engineer salary in Wichita, KS, you take home approximately $61,399.81 per year ($5,117/month, $2,362 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $9,633.54, state $4,238.364, FICA $6,235.286. Effective tax rate: 24.7%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Civil Engineers in Wichita earn compared to the US average?
Civil Engineers in Wichita earn approximately 15% less than the US national median for this role ($95,890 nationally vs $81,507 in Wichita). However, Wichita's cost-of-living index of 86 means real purchasing power is approximately $94,776 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Civil Engineer earn in Wichita?
Entry-level Civil Engineers in Wichita typically start at around $55,250 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Civil Engineers earn $106,250 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $122,919+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Civil Engineer salaries in Wichita increase in 2026?
Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Wichita grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $14,299 in 2025 to $81,507 in 2026 (+$67,208). 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 Wichita?
Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Wichita's top industries include Aerospace (Spirit, Cessna), Healthcare, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.6% — 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 Wichita.
Who are the top employers hiring Civil Engineers in Wichita?
Top employers hiring Civil Engineers in or near Wichita 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 Wichita?
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 Wichita?
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 Wichita?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); PE for senior roles is the typical path. However, Wichita'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 Wichita are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($95,890) by Wichita's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.85× — 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.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Wichita

Mechanical Engineer →Electrical Engineer →

Civil Engineer Salary in Other Cities

El Paso, TX$82KMemphis, TN$84KOklahoma City, OK$84KTulsa, OK$84K

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