Civil Engineer salary in California
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500 a year ($58.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 55,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,940 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $100,840. California ranks 1st of 51 states for civil engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.0 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $124,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| 25th percentile | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Median | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| 75th percentile | $149,350 | $71.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,940 | $84.59 |
| Average (mean) | $124,540 | $59.87 |
Half of civil engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,208.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,104.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,711.54 |
| Weekly | $2,355.77 |
| Hourly | $58.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Civil Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,280 | 3,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,160 | 10,990 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,150 | 5,590 |
| Redding, CA | $126,000 | 380 |
| Napa, CA | $123,440 | 180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,510 | 300 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,160 | 250 |
| Yuba City, CA | $119,990 | 460 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,980 | 610 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,720 | 1,250 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $118,050 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $116,990 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $115,120 | 3,510 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $111,740 | 490 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $110,210 | 720 |
| El Centro, CA | $109,490 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $108,900 | 5,620 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $108,820 | 790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,640 | 16,340 |
| Chico, CA | $107,350 | 160 |
| Visalia, CA | $104,780 | 200 |
| Merced, CA | $102,930 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,000 | 320 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $99,910 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $99,300 | 870 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,500 |
| Alaska | $114,730 |
| Washington | $110,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 |
| Oregon | $105,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 |
| Nevada | $104,310 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in California?
The median salary for civil engineers in California is $122,500 a year, or $58.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in California?
The top 10% of civil engineers in California earn at least $175,940 a year. The top 25% earn $149,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,980 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $96,590 or less.
How many civil engineers work in California?
About 55,180 civil engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.