Civil engineer salary in California after taxes
The median civil engineer in California earns $122,500 a year ($58.89 an hour). After 2026 taxes, that's about $85,540 a year, or $3,290.00 every two weeks.
Take-home pay at each pay level
| Pay level | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Per month | Every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $77,980 | $59,361 | $4,947 | $2,283.11 |
| 25th percentile | $96,590 | $70,314 | $5,859 | $2,704.38 |
| Median | $122,500 | $85,540 | $7,128 | $3,290.00 |
| 75th percentile | $149,350 | $100,796 | $8,400 | $3,876.78 |
| 90th percentile | $175,940 | $115,905 | $9,659 | $4,457.87 |
The 10th percentile means 10% of civil engineers in California earn less than this. New hires usually start near the 10th–25th percentile.
Your exact paycheck
Change the salary, add your 401(k), health premiums and W-4 settings:
Civil engineer take-home pay in other states
California ranks #2 of 20 of the states we cover for median civil engineer take-home pay.
| State | Median gross | Take-home / year |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $114,730 | $89,543 |
| California | $122,500 | $85,540 |
| Washington | $110,000 | $84,689 |
| Nevada | $104,310 | $82,212 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 | $78,407 |
| New Hampshire | $98,710 | $78,272 |
| South Dakota | $98,700 | $78,265 |
| Florida | $98,570 | $78,174 |
| Texas | $96,860 | $76,971 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 | $76,892 |
| Tennessee | $95,910 | $76,303 |
| New York | $103,760 | $76,265 |
| North Carolina | $100,730 | $76,106 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,850 | $74,663 |
| Illinois | $99,760 | $74,218 |
| Ohio | $96,220 | $74,025 |
| Wyoming | $90,590 | $72,560 |
| Virginia | $97,120 | $72,384 |
| Michigan | $92,100 | $69,959 |
| Georgia | $84,240 | $64,638 |
Questions
How much does a civil engineer make in California after taxes?
The median civil engineer in California earns $122,500 a year ($58.89 an hour) before tax, according to BLS data for May 2025. After 2026 federal and state taxes that's about $85,540 a year, $7,128 a month or $3,290.00 every two weeks for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions.
How many civil engineers work in California?
About 55,180, according to the BLS May 2025 estimates.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, statewide, all industries. BLS wages include tips and commissions, not overtime premiums or benefits. Take-home uses 2026 tax rules for a single filer paid every two weeks with W-4 defaults and no pre-tax deductions.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state data)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A and Annual Percentage Method tables
- SSA: 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500)
- California EDD, 2026 Withholding Schedules, Method B (exact calculation)
- California EDD: SDI withholding rate (1.3% in 2026, no wage cap)
More for California: all jobs · paycheck calculator · hourly · salary