Civil Engineer Salary in Santa Maria, CA: $123,135 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Santa Maria, CA earns a median $123,135/year (≈ $59.20/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Santa Maria's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.8), that paycheck buys what $113,178 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Santa Maria, California, the median annual salary for civil engineers is projected to be $123,135 in 2026, reflecting a notable increase driven by infrastructure investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The salary distribution reveals entry-level positions earning around $80,647 while seasoned professionals can reach up to $175,549. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026 and underscores the competitive nature of the job market in the region. With more federal and state projects underway, Santa Maria is a vibrant hub for civil engineering talent, creating significant opportunities for both recent graduates and established professionals alike.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $80,647 | $38.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $96,883 | $46.58 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $123,135 | $59.20 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $155,310 | $74.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $175,549 | $84.39 |
Median Salary Position
18.98% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Maria
In Santa Maria, CA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $94,902 (2026 est.). At $123,135, the local median is 18.98% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Maria: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Santa Maria Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Santa Maria median: $123,135/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Maria Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $118,172 | +4.20% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +18.98% more |
Civil Engineers in Santa Maria, CA earn a median of $123,135 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.98% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 4.20% above the California state average of $118,172.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Maria has a cost of living 8.80% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Maria, CA has a cost-of-living index of 108.798 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $123,135 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $113,178 — a 8.09% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$112,400
2025 BLS Actual
$119,980
2026 Current Est.
$123,135
2019–2027 Growth
+12.4%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Santa Maria (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $112,400 | Actual |
| 2020 | $100,430 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,230 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,810 | Actual |
| 2023 | $99,790 | Actual |
| 2024 | $106,430 | Actual |
| 2025 | $119,980 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $123,135 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $126,374 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Maria metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 6.7% from $112,400 (2019) to $119,980 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $126,374 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,974 (12.43%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Maria 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) | $80,647 – $96,883 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $96,883 – $123,135 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $123,135 – $155,310 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $155,310 – $175,549 |
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 Maria
The local job market for civil engineers in Santa Maria is robust, with approximately 610 professionals currently employed in this field, providing a stable environment for job seekers. The cost of living in the area, with an index of 108.798, slightly above the national average, impacts the effective take-home pay for engineers. Top-tier employers, including reputable engineering consulting firms such as AECOM and Jacobs, typically offer the highest salaries. The disparity in pay within the local market can be attributed to factors like the Professional Engineer (PE) license, specialization in high-demand areas such as structural or geotechnical engineering, and the tier of the firm. To maximize compensation, civil engineers should focus on obtaining certification, building specialization, and considering roles in high-paying sectors like federal agencies or leading private firms and consulting networks while remaining agile in the evolving infrastructure landscape in Santa Maria, CA.
More salary data for Santa Maria, 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 $119,980 for civil engineersin the Santa Maria 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