Civil Engineer Salary in Madera, CA: $115,399 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Madera, CA earns a median $115,399/year (≈ $55.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Madera's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $102,033 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.3% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, a civil engineer in Madera, California, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $115,399, which represents a notable 11.51% increase over the national median of $103,492. The salary range for this profession varies significantly, from $80,655 at the 10th percentile to $178,869 at the 90th percentile, indicating the diverse opportunities available within the field. Estimates for these figures are derived from 2025 BLS state-level data adjusted for regional price parities. Madera's job market for civil engineers is embedded in a robust demand primarily fueled by infrastructure projects linked to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, emphasizing the importance of licensure progression from FE to PE, which is crucial for advancing into higher compensation brackets.
About the Madera Market
Salary estimated from California average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $80,655 | $38.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $92,528 | $44.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $115,399 | $55.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $147,711 | $71.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $178,869 | $85.99 |
Median Salary Position
11.51% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Madera
In Madera, CA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $98,214 (2026 est.). At $115,399, the local median is 11.51% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Madera: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Madera Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Madera median: $115,399/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Madera Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $118,116 | -2.30% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | +11.51% more |
Civil Engineers in Madera, CA earn a median of $115,399 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.51% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 2.30% below the California state average of $118,116.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Madera has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Madera, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $115,399 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $102,033 — a 11.58% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$88,770
2025 BLS Actual
$112,442
2026 Current Est.
$115,399
2019–2027 Growth
+33.4%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Madera (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,770 | Actual |
| 2020 | $104,160 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,790 | Actual |
| 2022 | $102,810 | Actual |
| 2023 | $95,530 | Actual |
| 2024 | $138,086 | Actual |
| 2025 | $112,442 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $115,399 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $118,434 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Madera metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 26.7% from $88,770 (2019) to $112,442 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $118,434 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,664 (33.42%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Madera metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $80,655 – $92,528 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $92,528 – $115,399 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $115,399 – $147,711 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $147,711 – $178,869 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Madera
With only eight civil engineers currently employed in Madera, the local market is relatively small, leading to a competitive job environment. The cost of living index in the area stands at 113.1, which suggests that salaries must accommodate a higher-than-average cost for housing and essentials, impacting take-home purchasing power. Among the employers in Madera, engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs typically offer the highest compensation packages. The wide salary range reflects various factors, including the impact of obtaining a PE license, which is often necessary for securing senior positions, as well as specialization areas such as structural engineering or transportation design that can yield higher pay. To maximize compensation, civil engineers should consider targeting larger consulting firms and government projects, as well as actively pursuing their licensure and expanding their skillsets to align with the ongoing infrastructure spending that continues to drive demand in the region.
More salary data for Madera, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Madera, CA in 2026?
Is Madera, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Can civil engineers make $100K in Madera?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted civil engineer salary in Madera?
How much does a civil engineer make per hour in Madera?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $112,442 for civil engineersin the Madera metropolitan area. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Madera is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov