How much does a civil engineer make in California?
$122,500a year
Median yearly pay for civil engineers in California. That is $58.89 an hour or $10,210 a month.
- Hourly
- $58.89
- Vs. national median
- +21%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 55,180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $77,980Median: $122,500Highest 10%: $175,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,980 | $37.49 | |
| 25th | $96,590 | $46.44 | |
| Median | $122,500 | $58.89 | |
| 75th | $149,400 | $71.80 | |
| 90th | $175,900 | $84.59 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $130,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $130,200 |
| Sacramento, CA | $130,200 |
| Redding, CA | $126,000 |
| Napa, CA | $123,400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,500 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,200 |
| Yuba City, CA | $120,000 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $120,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,700 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $118,100 |
| Stockton, CA | $117,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $115,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $111,700 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $110,200 |
| El Centro, CA | $109,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $108,900 |
| Oxnard, CA | $108,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $108,600 |
| Chico, CA | $107,400 |
| Visalia, CA | $104,800 |
| Merced, CA | $102,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,000 |
| Hanford, CA | $99,910 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $99,300 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for civil engineers.
| 1. California | $122,500 |
| 2. Alaska | $114,700 |
| 3. Washington | $110,000 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $106,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $58.89 ($122,500 a year).
Do civil engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $122,500 against $100,800 nationally, 21% more.
Where does California rank for civil engineer pay?
California ranks 1 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays civil engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $130,300 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.