Civil Engineer Salary in Little Rock, AR
Civil Engineers in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area earn a median $83,030 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,216 take-home, or $5,351 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Little Rock, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,437
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,148
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,204
- Arkansas income tax$3,025
- Take-home pay$64,216
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.90% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Little Rock, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,550 | $27.67 | $46,390 | $3,866 |
| 25th percentile | $69,590 | $33.46 | $55,285 | $4,607 |
| Median (50th) | $83,030 | $39.92 | $64,216 | $5,351 |
| 75th percentile | $112,260 | $53.97 | $83,640 | $6,970 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,030 | $66.36 | $100,439 | $8,370 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,030 buys in Little Rock, AR
Prices in Little Rock, AR are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $64,216 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,859 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Little Rock, AR than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Little Rock, AR ranks #103 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 103 | Little Rock, AR | $83,030 | $64,216 | $71,859 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Fayetteville, AR — $82,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Little Rock, AR?
The median civil engineer salary in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area is $83,030 a year, or about $39.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,590 and $112,260.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Little Rock, AR?
On the median $83,030 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $64,216 a year ($5,351 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,025 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Little Rock, AR a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,859 would in a typical U.S. city. Little Rock, AR ranks #103 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Little Rock, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Little Rock, AR is $984 a month ($1,143 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.