Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Bakersfield, CA: $49.00 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Bakersfield, CA runs $49.00 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $101,912 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Bakersfield's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.9, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $48.57 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $61,146 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Civil engineers in Bakersfield, CA, earn a median hourly pay of $49.00, closely aligned with the national hourly median of $49.76. This competitive rate allows for a sustainable living in the region, particularly for those working in various environments such as consulting firm offices, construction site field offices, and government agencies. The hourly wage range for civil engineers starts at $37.30 for entry-level positions, reaching up to $80.51 for top earners in the field. This data is derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, indicating a promising pay scale for civil engineers entering Bakersfield's job market. The decent hourly rates can significantly benefit part-time or per-diem workers, who might operate on flexible schedules accommodating three days a week or other arrangements involving remote or hybrid work.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37.30 | $298.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41.81 | $334.49 |
| Median (P50) | $49.00 | $391.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $63.70 | $509.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.51 | $644.11 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bakersfield
Based on $49.00/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $49.00/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bakersfield, CA can expect to earn approximately $101,911 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $58,795. With a cost-of-living index of 100.89 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Bakersfield.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bakersfield
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,959.82 | $8,493 | $101,911 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,175.89 | $5,096 | $61,146 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $783.93 | $3,397 | $40,764 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Bakersfield) | $49.00 |
| Mechanical Engineer (National Avg) | $48.61 |
| Electrical Engineer (National Avg) | $54.18 |
| Architect (National Avg) | $45.72 |
| Construction Manager (National Avg) | $51.87 |
Civil Engineers in Bakersfield, CA earn a median of $101,912 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.53% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 13.70% below the California state average of $118,090.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $49.00/hr = $61,146/year (purchasing power: $60,609).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $101,911/year (purchasing power: $101,016).
CoL index: 100.886 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$49.30/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$47.74/hr
2026 Current Est.
$49.00/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+2.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Bakersfield (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49.30/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $49.44/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $44.97/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $44.42/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $45.86/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $47.19/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $47.74/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $49.00/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50.28/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Bakersfield grew -3.2% from $49.30/hr (2019) to $47.74/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $50.28/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem civil engineers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bakersfield 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.
Working as an Hourly Civil Engineer in Bakersfield
Examining the financial landscape for part-time civil engineers reveals interesting insights. A civil engineer working part-time, clocking in 24 hours weekly, would earn approximately $61,632 annually, compared to a full-time engineer's $101,912. For those pursuing per diem arrangements, billing ranges from $100 to $180 per hour for standard project work, while specialized engineers serving as expert witnesses can charge between $250 and $500 hourly. In Bakersfield, hourly rates can fluctuate based on employer type; major engineering consulting firms often offer competitive pay, while government agencies may provide lower hourly rates in exchange for benefits like health insurance. To maximize earning potential, civil engineers should be prepared to negotiate based on their unique skills and experience, especially in specialized areas such as geotechnical investigations or hydraulic studies, where higher pay is attainable.
More salary data for Bakersfield, 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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for civil engineers in Bakersfield. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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