Expert Civil Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $151,406 |
| 25th | $155,667 |
| 50th (median) | $165,247 |
| 75th | $207,508 |
| 90th | $223,930 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $138,674 | $138,674 | $143,293 | 11 |
| FY2021 | $150,000 | $144,300 | $165,233 | 24 |
| FY2022 | $162,000 | $152,250 | $174,188 | 10 |
| FY2023 | $150,000 | $144,750 | $172,634 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $150,000 | $138,590 | $163,224 | 31 |
| FY2025 | $170,000 | $153,703 | $201,655 | 19 |
| FY2026 | $160,493 | $155,667 | $206,300 | 15 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Civil Engineer salary of $165,247 is worth about $142,900 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 $165,247, 27% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | too few | 2 |
| AECOM Technical Services | too few | 2 |
| Arup | too few | 2 |
| Black & Veatch | too few | 2 |
| Urbaser | 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 | $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.