Civil Engineer Salary in El Centro, CA: $112,370 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in El Centro, CA earns a median $112,370/year (≈ $54.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in El Centro's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.2), that paycheck buys what $118,068 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.9% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, civil engineers in El Centro, California, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $112,370, surpassing the national median of $103,492 by 8.58%. With salaries ranging from $79,928 at the lower end (P10) to $167,143 at the upper end (P90), those entering the field can expect to see salary growth as they progress from FE to PE licensure. The certification not only qualifies engineers for higher seniority roles but also significantly boosts earning potential. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, reflects a stable outlook within a job market that continues to be bolstered by various infrastructure projects and local demand for engineering services in El Centro.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,928 | $38.42 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $98,001 | $47.12 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $112,370 | $54.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $137,062 | $65.90 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $167,143 | $80.36 |
Median Salary Position
8.58% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in El Centro
In El Centro, CA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $87,215 (2026 est.). At $112,370, the local median is 8.58% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in El Centro: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How El Centro Civil Engineer Pay Compares
El Centro median: $112,370/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | El Centro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $118,159 | -4.90% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | +8.58% more |
Civil Engineers in El Centro, CA earn a median of $112,370 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.58% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 4.90% below the California state average of $118,159.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
El Centro has a cost of living 4.83% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
El Centro, CA has a cost-of-living index of 95.174 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $112,370 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $118,068 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.07% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$85,470
2025 BLS Actual
$109,490
2026 Current Est.
$112,370
2019–2027 Growth
+34.9%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in El Centro (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $85,470 | Actual |
| 2020 | $86,100 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $100,890 | Actual |
| 2024 | $106,380 | Actual |
| 2025 | $109,490 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $112,370 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $115,325 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the El Centro metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 28.1% from $85,470 (2019) to $109,490 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $115,325 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,855 (34.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the El Centro 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) | $79,928 – $98,001 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $98,001 – $112,370 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $112,370 – $137,062 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $137,062 – $167,143 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in El Centro
The local civil engineering job market in El Centro employs approximately 120 professionals. With a cost-of-living index of 95.174, which is below the national average, engineers can find their take-home pay more impactful despite the regional pay scale. Employers such as AECOM and Jacobs are positioned to offer competitive salaries, particularly for roles requiring a PE license or specialized expertise in fields like geotechnical engineering. The variation between lower and higher pay can be attributed to several factors, including specialization, tier of the employing firm, and the prevailing departmental pay scales for government versus private sector jobs. To maximize pay in El Centro, engineers should seek to enhance their credentials through licensure and specialization while also considering opportunities with top-tier consulting firms, where the financial benefits and project diversity can be substantial.
More salary data for El Centro, 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 $109,490 for civil engineersin the El Centro 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