Civil Engineers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$77,980
- 25th Percentile — Junior$96,590
- 50th Percentile — Median$122,500
- 75th Percentile — Senior$149,350
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$175,940
Half of Civil Engineers in California earn more than $122,500. The top 10% make $175,940 or more, while entry-level workers start around $77,980.
Civil Engineers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Civil Engineers pay, at $124,540 per year (14.6% above the U.S. average of $108,670).
- 55,180 people work as Civil Engineers in California — 15.0% of all U.S. Civil Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.28: Civil Engineers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,980; the top 10% earn over $175,940.
- Hourly equivalent: $59.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among engineering jobs in California, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($190,590).
Civil Engineers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Civil Engineers here earn $124,540 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $124,540 is roughly equivalent to $87,704 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($118,830), New York ($117,880), Washington ($117,670) are the closest alternatives for Civil Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $190,590/yr California +53.0% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $160,980/yr California +29.3% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $159,960/yr California +28.4% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $151,180/yr California +21.4% vs this role
- Petroleum Engineers $147,940/yr California +18.8% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $139,670/yr California +12.1% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $136,660/yr California +9.7% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $132,400/yr California +6.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Civil Engineers salary in California?
The average Civil Engineers salary in California is $124,540 per year (median $122,500), which is 14.6% above the national average of $108,670.
How does California rank for Civil Engineers pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($124,540/yr).
How much do entry-level Civil Engineers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Civil Engineers in California earn about $77,980 per year and the 25th percentile is $96,590.
How much do Civil Engineers make per hour in California?
About $59.88 per hour, based on the $124,540 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Civil Engineers work in California?
BLS counts 55,180 Civil Engineers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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