California Median
$122,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$58.89
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+21% vs US median
US median $100,840
State Rank
#1 of 51
55,180 employed here
How much does a Civil Engineer make in California?
A Civil Engineer working in California earns a median salary of $122,500 per year, or about $58.89 per hour. That is 21% above the national median of $100,840 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $77,980 while the top 10% make $175,940 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $96,590 and $149,350 a year.
Civil Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,980 | $37.49 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $96,590 | $46.44 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $122,500 | $58.89 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $149,350 | $71.80 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,940 | $84.59 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Civil Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Civil Engineer salary in other states
Alaska $114,730Washington $110,000Massachusetts $106,730Louisiana $105,380Oregon $105,250New Jersey $104,660Nevada $104,310New Mexico $103,900District of Columbia $103,880New York $103,760Connecticut $103,150Nebraska $103,150South Carolina $101,600Minnesota $101,480Colorado $101,420Kentucky $100,930North Carolina $100,730Maryland $100,680Delaware $100,220Mississippi $100,170Illinois $99,760Rhode Island $99,300Alabama $99,010Oklahoma $98,760New Hampshire $98,710South Dakota $98,700Florida $98,570Indiana $98,270North Dakota $98,190Idaho $98,030Pennsylvania $97,850Maine $97,820Virginia $97,120Kansas $96,880Texas $96,860Utah $96,830Iowa $96,430Ohio $96,220Tennessee $95,910Vermont $95,600Wisconsin $94,600Hawaii $94,280Montana $93,070Missouri $92,750Michigan $92,100Wyoming $90,590Arizona $89,660West Virginia $86,930Arkansas $85,020Georgia $84,240
Working as a Civil Engineer in California
Nationally, about 368,000 people work as Civil Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($122,500) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Civil Engineer make in California?
The median Civil Engineer salary in California is $122,500 per year, or about $58.89 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $77,980 at the entry level to $175,940 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Civil Engineers about 21% more than the national median of $100,840. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Civil Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $122,500 a year. About 55,180 Civil Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Civil Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.