Mid-level Civil Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 118 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $106,163 |
| 25th | $109,002 |
| 50th (median) | $113,838 |
| 75th | $124,800 |
| 90th | $137,774 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $97,381 | $95,243 | $104,250 | 52 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $98,667 | $107,000 | 51 |
| FY2022 | $102,880 | $99,070 | $110,000 | 96 |
| FY2023 | $105,000 | $97,982 | $115,000 | 68 |
| FY2024 | $110,000 | $106,056 | $126,000 | 56 |
| FY2025 | $110,000 | $106,163 | $120,465 | 72 |
| FY2026 | $114,000 | $113,838 | $129,250 | 46 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median mid-level Civil Engineer salary of $113,838 is worth about $98,500 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 $113,838, 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Webcor Construction | too few | 7 |
| Thornton Tomasetti | too few | 4 |
| AECOM Technical Services | too few | 3 |
| Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company | too few | 3 |
| Blocka Construction | too few | 3 |
| Buehler Engineering | too few | 3 |
| Cumming Management Group | too few | 3 |
| Exponent | too few | 3 |
| Jacobs Associates | too few | 3 |
| Jacobs Project Management Company | too few | 3 |
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.