Civil Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Civil Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $130,160 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,663 take-home, or $7,555 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,972
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,070
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,887
- California income tax$7,875
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,692
- Take-home pay$90,663
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,860 | $43.68 | $67,348 | $5,612 |
| 25th percentile | $103,030 | $49.53 | $74,620 | $6,218 |
| Median (50th) | $130,160 | $62.58 | $90,663 | $7,555 |
| 75th percentile | $163,150 | $78.44 | $109,715 | $9,143 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,730 | $97.47 | $133,678 | $11,140 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,160 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $90,663 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,419 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 Francisco, CA has 2.0× 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 Francisco, CA ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | San Francisco, CA | $130,160 | $90,663 | $78,419 |
*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
- 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 San Francisco, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $130,160 a year, or about $62.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,030 and $163,150.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $130,160 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,663 a year ($7,555 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,567 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,419 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #56 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 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 San Francisco, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $203,890
- Aerospace Engineer — $191,260
- Electrical Engineer — $166,030
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $162,440
- Mechanical Engineer — $161,370
- Engineers, All Other — $159,800
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $140,660
- Environmental Engineer — $138,840
- Industrial Engineer — $132,230
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $126,550
- Surveyor — $125,060
- Landscape Architect — $119,730