Civil Engineer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Civil Engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $118,050 a year ($56.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,580 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $100,840. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $122,500. There are 2.2 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $117,660, close to the median.
Pay range for civil engineers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,460 | $36.76 |
| 25th percentile | $90,860 | $43.69 |
| Median | $118,050 | $56.76 |
| 75th percentile | $133,100 | $63.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,580 | $80.09 |
| Average (mean) | $117,660 | $56.57 |
Half of civil engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,837.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,918.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,540.38 |
| Weekly | $2,270.19 |
| Hourly | $56.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $118,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Civil Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,280 | 3,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,160 | 10,990 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,150 | 5,590 |
| Redding, CA | $126,000 | 380 |
| Napa, CA | $123,440 | 180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,510 | 300 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,160 | 250 |
| Yuba City, CA | $119,990 | 460 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,980 | 610 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,720 | 1,250 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $116,990 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $115,120 | 3,510 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $111,740 | 490 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $110,210 | 720 |
| El Centro, CA | $109,490 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $108,900 | 5,620 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $108,820 | 790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,640 | 16,340 |
| Chico, CA | $107,350 | 160 |
| Visalia, CA | $104,780 | 200 |
| Merced, CA | $102,930 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,000 | 320 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $99,910 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $99,300 | 870 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,500 |
| Alaska | $114,730 |
| Washington | $110,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 |
| Oregon | $105,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 |
| Nevada | $104,310 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 |
See Civil Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,920 | $63.91 |
| Engineers, All Other | $141,150 | $67.86 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $133,560 | $64.21 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,370 | $81.43 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $182,840 | $87.90 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $67,930 | $32.66 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for civil engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $118,050 a year, or $56.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of civil engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $166,580 a year. The top 25% earn $133,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,460 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $90,860 or less.
How many civil engineers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 210 civil engineers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.