Civil Engineer Salary in Fresno, CA
Civil Engineers in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median $119,720 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,592 take-home, or $7,049 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Fresno, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,508
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,423
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,736
- California income tax$6,904
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,556
- Take-home pay$84,592
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Fresno, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,870 | $36.00 | $57,750 | $4,813 |
| 25th percentile | $90,860 | $43.68 | $67,348 | $5,612 |
| Median (50th) | $119,720 | $57.56 | $84,592 | $7,049 |
| 75th percentile | $139,900 | $67.26 | $96,288 | $8,024 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,670 | $79.17 | $110,593 | $9,216 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $119,720 buys in Fresno, CA
Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $84,592 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,805 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are about as common in Fresno, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Fresno, CA ranks #21 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $119,720 | $84,592 | $82,805 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $130,150
- San Jose, CA — $130,280
- Yuba City, CA — $119,990
- Stockton, CA — $116,990
- San Francisco, CA — $130,160
- Santa Maria, CA — $119,980
- Riverside, CA — $115,120
- Santa Rosa, CA — $111,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Fresno, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Fresno, CA metro area is $119,720 a year, or about $57.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $90,860 and $139,900.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Fresno, CA?
On the median $119,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $84,592 a year ($7,049 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,461 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Fresno, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 2.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,805 would in a typical U.S. city. Fresno, CA ranks #21 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Fresno, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fresno, CA is $1,315 a month ($1,625 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.