Civil Engineer Salary in Santa Cruz, CA: $121,155 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Santa Cruz, CA earns a median $121,155/year (≈ $58.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Santa Cruz's price level (10% above national, BEA RPP 109.9), that paycheck buys what $110,245 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.5% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Santa Cruz, California, civil engineer salaries are influenced significantly by the infrastructure spending driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The median annual salary for civil engineers is projected to reach $121,155 in 2026, which surpasses the national median of $103,492 by a noteworthy margin. Salary figures reveal a range from $78,471 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $170,961 for top earners (90th percentile), indicating a competitive market for professionals in the area. According to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, these figures reflect the strong demand for civil engineering expertise in Santa Cruz, affecting hiring practices and compensation trends across various sectors.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,471 | $37.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $93,250 | $44.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $121,155 | $58.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $136,601 | $65.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $170,961 | $82.20 |
Median Salary Position
17.07% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Cruz
In Santa Cruz, CA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $92,490 (2026 est.). At $121,155, the local median is 17.07% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Cruz: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Santa Cruz Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Santa Cruz median: $121,155/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Cruz Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $118,200 | +2.50% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +17.07% more |
Civil Engineers in Santa Cruz, CA earn a median of $121,155 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.07% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 2.50% above the California state average of $118,200.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Cruz has a cost of living 9.90% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Cruz, CA has a cost-of-living index of 109.896 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $121,155 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $110,245 — a 9% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$115,020
2025 BLS Actual
$118,050
2026 Current Est.
$121,155
2019–2027 Growth
+8.1%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Santa Cruz (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $115,020 | Actual |
| 2020 | $115,010 | Actual |
| 2021 | $99,830 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,560 | Actual |
| 2023 | $104,990 | Actual |
| 2024 | $116,440 | Actual |
| 2025 | $118,050 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $121,155 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $124,341 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Cruz metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 2.6% from $115,020 (2019) to $118,050 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $124,341 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,321 (8.10%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Cruz 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) | $78,471 – $93,250 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $93,250 – $121,155 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $121,155 – $136,601 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $136,601 – $170,961 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Santa Cruz
Currently, there are about 210 civil engineers employed in Santa Cruz, highlighting a robust local job market. However, the cost of living in this coastal city is relatively high, with an index of 109.896, which directly impacts take-home purchasing power in relation to civil engineer pay in Santa Cruz, CA. Among the highest-paying employers are renowned engineering consulting firms like AECOM, Jacobs, and WSP, as well as Fortune 500 construction companies such as Bechtel and Fluor. Factors contributing to the differences in compensation include the necessity of a PE license for advancement to senior roles, specialization in areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, and the competitive landscape between public and private sector opportunities. To maximize their earning potential, civil engineers in Santa Cruz should focus on obtaining relevant certifications, enhancing their technical skills, and pursuing project management positions, which often come with higher compensation packages.
More salary data for Santa Cruz, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $118,050 for civil engineersin the Santa Cruz 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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