Civil Engineers pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,610 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Chico earn between $83,480 and $141,560.
- $71K10th
- $83K25th
- $107KMedian
- $142K75th
- $163K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,880 | $9,573 | $55.23 |
| Median | $107,350 | $8,946 | $51.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,480 | $6,957 | $40.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $141,560 | $11,797 | $68.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Chico earn 8% less than the California average ($124,540) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $114,880 | $107,350 | $71,400 | $162,610 | 160 |
| California | $124,540 | $122,500 | $77,980 | $175,940 | 55,180 |
| United States | $108,670 | $100,840 | $68,240 | $163,220 | 367,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in Chico
On the average salary of $114,880, a single filer in Chico takes home about $83,056 a year, or $6,921 a month and $3,194 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $114,880 buys what about $113,521 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 20th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($137,910).
- San Jose$137,910
- San Francisco$136,350
- Napa$130,620
- Sacramento$129,650
- Redding$124,340
- Santa Rosa$122,750
- Vallejo$122,290
- Santa Maria$121,890
- Salinas$120,250
- Chico$114,880
Highest-paying cities for civil engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,910).
- San Jose, CA$137,910
- San Francisco, CA$136,350
- Napa, CA$130,620
- Sacramento, CA$129,650
- Redding, CA$124,340
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Civil Engineers salary in Chico: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Chico?
$55.23 an hour on average, and $51.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Chico?
About $83,056 a year ($6,921 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,880. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do civil engineers earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($108,670).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2051; area Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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