Civil Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Civil Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $108,900 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,127 take-home, or $6,511 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,128
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,752
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,579
- California income tax$5,898
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,416
- Take-home pay$78,127
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,410 | $38.18 | $60,507 | $5,042 |
| 25th percentile | $93,650 | $45.02 | $69,015 | $5,751 |
| Median (50th) | $108,900 | $52.36 | $78,127 | $6,511 |
| 75th percentile | $133,450 | $64.16 | $92,563 | $7,714 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,430 | $80.01 | $111,609 | $9,301 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $108,900 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $78,127 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,827 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.5× the national concentration of civil engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #114 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 |
| 114 | San Diego, CA | $108,900 | $78,127 | $69,827 |
*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 San Diego, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $108,900 a year, or about $52.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,650 and $133,450.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $108,900 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $78,127 a year ($6,511 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,314 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,827 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #114 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $174,440
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Aerospace Engineer — $135,010
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Electrical Engineer — $127,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $121,750
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $120,040
- Environmental Engineer — $119,390
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $92,480
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $91,620
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,840