Salaries › Civil Engineer › California
Civil Engineer Salary in California (2026)
$58.89 per hour · take-home ≈ $87,679/year ($7,307/month) for a single filer
Civil Engineer pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $77,980 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $96,590 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $122,500 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $149,350 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $175,940 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 55,180 Civil Engineer jobs in California (occupation code 17-2051, “Civil Engineers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Civil Engineer salary of $122,500 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $87,679 — an effective tax rate of 28.4%.
| Gross (median) | $122,500 |
| Federal income tax | −$18,134 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$9,371 |
| California state income tax | −$7,316 |
| Take-home (annual) | $87,679 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $7,307 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Civil Engineer make in California?
- The median Civil Engineer salary in California is $122,500 per year ($58.89 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $96,590 and $149,350.
- What is the take-home pay for a Civil Engineer in California?
- On the median salary of $122,500, a single filer in California takes home about $87,679 per year ($7,307 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 28.4%.
- How many Civil Engineer jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 55,180 Civil Engineer jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Civil Engineers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.