Civil Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 418 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oakland, Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton, San Mateo.
Also listed as: Structural Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $86,840 |
| 25th | $92,934 |
| 50th (median) | $109,271 |
| 75th | $134,763 |
| 90th | $155,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $84,546 | $73,920 | $98,390 | 219 |
| FY2021 | $95,000 | $80,000 | $112,428 | 211 |
| FY2022 | $99,070 | $83,150 | $114,083 | 256 |
| FY2023 | $99,852 | $86,221 | $120,000 | 210 |
| FY2024 | $110,000 | $88,619 | $135,625 | 200 |
| FY2025 | $106,163 | $90,600 | $125,798 | 248 |
| FY2026 | $113,838 | $92,934 | $136,000 | 170 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Civil Engineer salary of $109,271 is worth about $94,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Civil Engineers in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $130,160 in May 2025 (10,990 employed). The H-1B median here is $109,271, 16% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| California Department of Transportation | $89,136 | 43 |
| Webcor Construction | $108,930 | 11 |
| Andrew M. Jordan | $122,500 | 10 |
| Thornton Tomasetti | too few | 9 |
| AECOM Technical Services | too few | 8 |
| Exponent | too few | 8 |
| Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company | too few | 7 |
| BNBuilders | too few | 7 |
| HDR Engineering | too few | 7 |
| T.Y. Lin International | too few | 7 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $92,934 | 135 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $113,838 | 118 |
| Senior · Level III | $138,000 | 65 |
| Expert · Level IV | $165,247 | 34 |
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 | $86,528 | $92,934 | 135 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,163 | $113,838 | 118 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,763 | $138,000 | 65 |
| Expert · Level IV | $145,434 | $165,247 | 34 |
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.