Civil Engineer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Civil Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $108,640 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,972 take-home, or $6,498 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,071
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,736
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,575
- California income tax$5,874
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,412
- Take-home pay$77,972
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,860 | $35.03 | $56,523 | $4,710 |
| 25th percentile | $84,480 | $40.62 | $63,536 | $5,295 |
| Median (50th) | $108,640 | $52.23 | $77,972 | $6,498 |
| 75th percentile | $141,560 | $68.06 | $97,246 | $8,104 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,670 | $82.05 | $114,058 | $9,505 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $108,640 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $77,972 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,658 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #115 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 |
| 115 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,640 | $77,972 | $68,658 |
*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
- Fresno, CA — $119,720
- 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
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $108,640 a year, or about $52.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,480 and $141,560.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $108,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $77,972 a year ($6,498 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,286 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,658 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #115 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,280
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $158,530
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,530
- Electrical Engineer — $139,780
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $131,540
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,240
- Environmental Engineer — $127,900
- Materials Engineer — $125,200
- Engineers, All Other — $125,060
- Mechanical Engineer — $123,900
- Industrial Engineer — $113,040
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,170