Kentucky · SOC 17-2051
Civil Engineer Salary in Kentucky
VerifiedPublished wages for civil engineers in Kentucky, straight from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release — the full percentile distribution, employment concentration, and metro detail.
Civil Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $100,200 per year ($99,830 mean), per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $77,150–$117,190; the top 10% earn $134,420. That is 1% above the national median of $99,590, ranking Kentucky #16 of 50 states that publish this occupation.
Median wage
Verified$100,200
+1% vs national
Top 10% earn
$134,420
90th percentile
Employed in state
3,040
Reliability Good (7.8% RSE)
Civil Engineer pay distribution — Kentucky vs national
Every figure below is a published BLS percentile. Bars share one scale, so the two distributions compare directly.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $62,630 | -5% |
| 25th percentile | $77,150 | -2% |
| Median50th percentile | $100,200 | +1% |
| 75th percentile | $117,190 | -9% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $134,420 | -17% |
| Meanaverage | $99,830 | -7% |
Where civil engineers earn most in Kentucky
Metro areas in Kentucky where BLS publishes a wage for SOC 17-2051. Metros BLS withholds are not listed.
| Metro area | Median | Top 10% | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| LouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $103,410 | $134,430 | 1,180 |
| LexingtonLexington-Fayette, KY | $103,350 | $138,100 | 620 |
| ElizabethtownElizabethtown, KY | $98,010 | $132,240 | 50 |
| PaducahPaducah, KY-IL | $97,890 | $132,670 | 110 |
| ClarksvilleClarksville, TN-KY | $97,170 | $137,580 | 90 |
| Bowling GreenBowling Green, KY | $93,240 | $130,460 | 90 |
| CincinnatiCincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $90,580 | $132,410 | 1,660 |
| HuntingtonHuntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $86,940 | $127,520 | 320 |
| OwensboroOwensboro, KY | $82,960 | $129,600 | 40 |
Kentucky engineering labor market
Concentration and pay level across all engineering occupations BLS publishes for this state.
Location quotient
0.66
Jobs per 1,000
1.52
State rank (pay)
#16 of 50
All engineering roles
$100,716
A location quotient of 0.66 means civil engineers are less concentrated here than the national average, so openings are thinner even where pay is competitive.
Frequently asked questions
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Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2051 (Civil Engineers), Kentucky (state).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →