Civil Engineer Salary in Riverside, CA
Civil Engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $115,120 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,844 take-home, or $6,820 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,496
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,137
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,669
- California income tax$6,477
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,497
- Take-home pay$81,844
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,390 | $36.25 | $58,068 | $4,839 |
| 25th percentile | $87,900 | $42.26 | $65,580 | $5,465 |
| Median (50th) | $115,120 | $55.35 | $81,844 | $6,820 |
| 75th percentile | $136,810 | $65.77 | $94,503 | $7,875 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,820 | $81.16 | $112,989 | $9,416 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $115,120 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $81,844 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,890 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $90,732 | $82,168 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $90,774 | $81,680 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $81,079 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $79,848 | $80,958 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,680 | $76,568 | $80,877 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $98,860 | $74,669 | $80,686 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $99,010 | $76,543 | $80,176 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $115,120 | $81,844 | $76,890 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
About the job: civil engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $130,150
- San Jose, CA — $130,280
- San Francisco, CA — $130,160
- San Diego, CA — $108,900
- Los Angeles, CA — $108,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Riverside, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $115,120 a year, or about $55.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $87,900 and $136,810.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $115,120 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $81,844 a year ($6,820 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,973 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,890 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.