Mid-level Civil Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 37 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Chula Vista, Poway, Encinitas, El Cajon, Escondido.
Also listed as: Structural Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,498 |
| 25th | $98,322 |
| 50th (median) | $100,069 |
| 75th | $109,894 |
| 90th | $115,405 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,586 | $80,000 | $86,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $84,000 | $81,120 | $86,580 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $86,500 | $83,470 | $96,293 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $94,994 | $85,440 | $99,507 | 17 |
| FY2024 | $92,498 | $89,750 | $95,975 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $101,000 | $92,500 | $109,894 | 23 |
| FY2026 | $99,155 | $98,322 | $109,309 | 14 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median mid-level Civil Engineer salary of $100,069 is worth about $89,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Civil Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $108,900 in May 2025 (5,620 employed). The H-1B median here is $100,069, 8% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Kleinfelder | too few | 4 |
| E2 Consulting Engineers | too few | 3 |
| Shimmick Construction Company | too few | 3 |
| Aster Construction Services | too few | 2 |
| Clark Construction Group | too few | 2 |
| Geosyntec Consultants | too few | 2 |
| HTK Structural Engineers | too few | 2 |
| Stantec Consulting Services | too few | 2 |
| Ulteig Engineers | too few | 2 |
| Walter P. Moore and Associates | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $80,163 | 29 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,069 | 37 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,500 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,600 | 14 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $76,960 | $80,163 | 29 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,322 | $100,069 | 37 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,035 | $119,500 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $134,659 | $143,600 | 14 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.