Civil Engineer Salary in Redwood City, CA: $115,568 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Redwood City, CA earns a median $115,568/year (≈ $55.56/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Redwood City's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $102,182 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With the substantial investments in infrastructure stemming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the civil engineer salary in Redwood City has seen an upward trajectory, projected to reach a median annual figure of $115,568 in 2026. The salary range for this occupation is quite broad, extending from $80,921 at the 10th percentile to as high as $179,129 at the 90th percentile. These estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost contrasts, reflect a strong demand for engineers to support local public works projects and large-scale consulting initiatives. Given Redwood City’s strategic positioning and economic growth, attracting top talent in the civil engineering sector is expected to continue, enhancing the city's job market dynamics.
About the Redwood City Market
Salary estimated from California average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $80,921 | $38.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $90,333 | $43.43 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $115,568 | $55.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $147,927 | $71.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $179,129 | $86.12 |
Median Salary Position
11.67% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Redwood City
In Redwood City, CA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $98,208 (2026 est.). At $115,568, the local median is 11.67% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Redwood City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Redwood City Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Redwood City median: $115,568/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Redwood City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $118,167 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | +11.67% more |
Civil Engineers in Redwood City, CA earn a median of $115,568 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.67% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 2.20% below the California state average of $118,167.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Redwood City has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Redwood City, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $115,568 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $102,182 — a 11.58% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$97,218
2025 BLS Actual
$112,606
2026 Current Est.
$115,568
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Redwood City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $97,218 | Actual |
| 2020 | $98,904 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,324 | Actual |
| 2022 | $100,434 | Actual |
| 2023 | $107,078 | Actual |
| 2024 | $138,287 | Actual |
| 2025 | $112,606 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $115,568 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $118,607 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Redwood City metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $97,218 (2019) to $112,606 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $118,607 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,389 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Redwood City 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) | $80,921 – $90,333 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $90,333 – $115,568 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $115,568 – $147,927 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $147,927 – $179,129 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Redwood City
The job market for civil engineers in Redwood City consists of around 13 professionals, indicating a tightly-knit community where competition could intensify. The cost of living in this area is notably above the national average, with a cost-of-living index of 113.1, which can significantly affect take-home pay and purchasing power. Major employers that tend to offer higher wages include top-tier engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, as well as prominent Fortune 500 construction companies such as Bechtel and Kiewit. Various factors contribute to the significant pay disparity found in this market: having a Professional Engineer (PE) license can be pivotal for advancing into senior roles or project management, while specialization in areas such as structural or geotechnical engineering can command additional premiums. To maximize earnings in Redwood City, civil engineers should focus on obtaining their PE license and consider pursuing opportunities with well-established firms that align with growing infrastructure projects funded by federal initiatives.
More salary data for Redwood City, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in Redwood City, CA in 2026?
Is Redwood City, CA a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Can civil engineers make $100K in Redwood City?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted civil engineer salary in Redwood City?
How much does a civil engineer make per hour in Redwood City?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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 $112,606 for civil engineersin the Redwood City 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
Salary data for Redwood City 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