How much does a civil engineer make in San Diego?
$108,900a year
Median yearly pay for civil engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $52.36 an hour or $9,075 a month.
- Hourly
- $52.36
- Vs. national median
- +8%
- Rank among cities
- 28 of 373
- Jobs in the area
- 5,620
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $79,410Median: $108,900Highest 10%: $166,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,410 | $38.18 | |
| 25th | $93,650 | $45.02 | |
| Median | $108,900 | $52.36 | |
| 75th | $133,500 | $64.16 | |
| 90th | $166,400 | $80.01 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for civil engineers.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $99,300 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $174,400 |
| Electronics Engineer | $156,500 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,000 |
| Engineer | $132,800 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $128,300 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,300 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $124,700 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,200 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,800 |
| Architect | $120,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $52.36 ($108,900 a year).
Do civil engineers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $108,900 against $100,800 nationally, 8% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $122,500, so San Diego pays 11% less.
Where does San Diego rank for civil engineer pay?
28 of 373 metro areas with data.
How much does a civil engineer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $79,410 or less a year; the top 10% make $166,400 or more.
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.