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Civil Engineers Salary in California

What Civil Engineers earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 7 counties.

Average in CA
$117,759
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
1 of 13
published states
Workers in state
54,040
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
7 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Civil Engineers pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$130,160$91,914$54,823Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$108,640$78,998$40,562Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Civil Engineers in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$130,160$91,914$54,823
2Contra Costa County, CA$130,160$91,914$54,823
3San Francisco County, CA$130,160$91,914$46,267
4San Mateo County, CA$130,160$91,914$46,267
5Marin County, CA$130,160$91,914$46,267
6Los Angeles County, CA$108,640$78,998$40,562
7Orange County, CA$108,640$78,998$38,066

Civil Engineers pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Civil Engineers in California is $117,759, based on 54,040 workers. Among the 13 states with published data, that ranks number 1. The BLS national median for the occupation is $100,840, so California averages 16.8% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $130,160 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $108,640 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $21,520 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Civil Engineers in California

We compare 7 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $54,823. Orange County, CA leaves the smallest, $38,066. The median wage covers all four basics in 7 of the 7 counties.

Civil Engineers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Civil Engineers are New Hampshire ($106,679), Massachusetts ($105,612), New York ($105,253) and New Jersey ($104,689).

Frequently asked questions: Civil Engineers in California

How much do Civil Engineers earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $117,759, from $108,640 to $130,160 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Civil Engineers?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($54,823). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $54,823.