Civil Engineers pay in California
In California, the median pay for civil engineers is $58.89 an hour ($122,500 a year). About 55,180 people work in this job there.
That is 21% higher than the U.S. median ($100,840). California ranks 1st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for civil engineers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $37.49 | $77,980 |
| 25% of workers | $46.44 | $96,590 |
| Half of workers (median) | $58.89 | $122,500 |
| 75% of workers | $71.80 | $149,350 |
| 90% of workers | $84.59 | $175,940 |
Civil Engineers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $130,280 | 3,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $130,160 | 10,990 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $130,150 | 5,590 |
| Redding | $126,000 | 380 |
| Napa | $123,440 | 180 |
| Vallejo | $122,510 | 300 |
| Salinas | $122,160 | 250 |
| Yuba City | $119,990 | 460 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $119,980 | 610 |
| Fresno | $119,720 | 1,250 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $118,050 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $116,990 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $115,120 | 3,510 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $111,740 | 490 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $110,210 | 720 |
| El Centro | $109,490 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $108,900 | 5,620 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $108,820 | 790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $108,640 | 16,340 |
| Chico | $107,350 | 160 |
| Visalia | $104,780 | 200 |
| Merced | $102,930 | 50 |
| Modesto | $101,000 | 320 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $99,910 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $99,300 | 870 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for civil engineers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.4% over ten years, faster than average · about 22,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Industrial Engineers | $124,600 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $130,900 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 |
| Electrical Engineers | $144,040 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $185,180 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $157,620 |
| Environmental Engineers | $130,410 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.