How much does a civil engineer make in Santa Cruz?
$118,100a year
Median yearly pay for civil engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $56.75 an hour or $9,838 a month.
- Hourly
- $56.75
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 14 of 373
- Jobs in the area
- 210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $76,460Median: $118,100Highest 10%: $166,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,460 | $36.76 | |
| 25th | $90,860 | $43.68 | |
| Median | $118,100 | $56.75 | |
| 75th | $133,100 | $63.99 | |
| 90th | $166,600 | $80.09 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $99,300 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,400 |
| Engineer | $141,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $133,600 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,900 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $56.75 ($118,100 a year).
Do civil engineers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $118,100 against $100,800 nationally, 17% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $122,500, so Santa Cruz pays 4% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for civil engineer pay?
14 of 373 metro areas with data.
How much does a civil engineer make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $76,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $166,600 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.