Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Garden Grove, CA: $58.09 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Garden Grove, CA runs $58.09 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $120,823 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Garden Grove's regional price level (BEA RPP 113.1, 13% above national), each hour of work buys what $51.36 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $72,495 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Civil engineering professionals in Garden Grove, CA, can expect a median hourly rate of $58.09 in 2026, which exceeds the national hourly median of $49.76 by a notable margin. This higher compensation reflects the specific demands and costs associated with living in California. For part-time civil engineers working approximately three days a week, this translates into a significant earning potential, especially when working from consulting firm offices or on construction sites where advanced design tools like AutoCAD or Revit are utilized. Entry-level positions may start around $37.38 per hour, while seasoned professionals, particularly those at the top tier, can earn as much as $90.04 per hour. These hourly estimates reflect a breakdown derived from the annual figures, highlighting a structured pay scale tailored to the local job market.
About the Garden Grove Market
Salary estimated from California average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37.38 | $299.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44.46 | $355.67 |
| Median (P50) | $58.09 | $464.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74.36 | $594.84 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $90.04 | $720.30 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Garden Grove
Based on $58.09/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $58.09/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Garden Grove, CA can expect to earn approximately $120,824 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $69,706. With a cost-of-living index of 113.10 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Garden Grove.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Garden Grove
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,323.54 | $10,069 | $120,824 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,394.13 | $6,041 | $72,495 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $929.42 | $4,027 | $48,330 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Garden Grove) | $58.09 |
| 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 Garden Grove, CA earn a median of $120,823 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.75% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 2.30% above the California state average of $118,107.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $58.09/hr = $72,495/year (purchasing power: $64,098).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $120,824/year (purchasing power: $106,830).
CoL index: 113.1 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$48.87/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$56.60/hr
2026 Current Est.
$58.09/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Garden Grove (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48.87/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $49.71/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.42/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $50.48/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $53.82/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $69.51/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $56.60/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $58.09/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Garden Grove grew 15.8% from $48.87/hr (2019) to $56.60/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $59.62/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 Garden Grove 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 Garden Grove
For those considering part-time hours, a civil engineer in Garden Grove working 24 hours per week could see annual earnings around $72,000, a notable income compared to full-time counterparts. Per-diem civil engineers working on a contract basis may utilize the flexibility of agency positions to secure pay rates ranging from $100 to $180 per hour, with specialized consultants and expert witnesses reportedly earning up to $500 an hour for high-stakes work. Hourly rates may vary significantly based on employer type; large engineering firms and Fortune 500 construction companies tend to offer more competitive rates compared to government positions. Some engineers opt for lower hourly rates to gain the security of benefits, including health insurance, highlighting a fundamental trade-off in the civil engineering field. Negotiation strategies in this competitive market should focus on value, emphasizing skills and certifications like EIT or PE licensure, especially within firms engaged in significant infrastructure projects driven by recent legislation.
More salary data for Garden Grove, 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 Garden Grove. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Garden Grove 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