Civil Engineers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $166,430 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in San Diego earn between $93,650 and $133,450.
- $79K10th
- $94K25th
- $109KMedian
- $133K75th
- $166K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,700 | $9,892 | $57.07 |
| Median | $108,900 | $9,075 | $52.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,650 | $7,804 | $45.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,450 | $11,121 | $64.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Civil engineers in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($124,540) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $118,700 | $108,900 | $79,410 | $166,430 | 5,620 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $118,700, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $85,388 a year, or $7,116 a month and $3,284 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 San Diego a good place for civil engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $118,700 buys what about $106,089 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 11th 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
- San Diego$118,700
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 San Diego: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in San Diego?
$57.07 an hour on average, and $52.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $85,388 a year ($7,116 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,700. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do civil engineers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 1.54, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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