Civil Engineer Salary in San Jose, CA
Civil Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $130,280 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,732 take-home, or $7,561 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,001
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,077
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,889
- California income tax$7,886
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,694
- Take-home pay$90,732
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,790 | $39.32 | $61,929 | $5,161 |
| 25th percentile | $100,300 | $48.22 | $72,989 | $6,082 |
| Median (50th) | $130,280 | $62.63 | $90,732 | $7,561 |
| 75th percentile | $166,320 | $79.96 | $111,545 | $9,295 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,330 | $98.72 | $135,317 | $11,276 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,280 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $90,732 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,168 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 San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $90,732 | $82,168 |
*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
- 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 San Jose, CA?
The median civil engineer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $130,280 a year, or about $62.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,300 and $166,320.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $130,280 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,732 a year ($7,561 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,580 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,168 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #26 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $209,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Aerospace Engineer — $181,630
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $168,030
- Materials Engineer — $156,730
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter — $115,530
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $96,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280