Civil Engineer Salary in San Buenaventura, CA: $119,325 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in San Buenaventura, CA earns a median $119,325/year (≈ $57.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in San Buenaventura's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $105,504 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.0% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Civil engineer salaries in San Buenaventura, California, are projected to reflect the significant impact of ongoing infrastructure investments driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In 2026, the median annual salary is anticipated to be $119,325, which exceeds the national median by 15.30%. With a salary range from $83,785 at the 10th percentile to $184,954 at the 90th percentile, civil engineers in this region are well-compensated within the context of a growing market. These figures derive from estimates based on 2025 BLS data adjusted for regional living costs, illustrating the favorable position of civil engineers amidst increasing local demand.
About the San Buenaventura Market
Salary estimated from California average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $83,785 | $40.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $96,627 | $46.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $119,325 | $57.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $152,736 | $73.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $184,954 | $88.92 |
Median Salary Position
15.30% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Buenaventura
In San Buenaventura, CA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $101,169 (2026 est.). At $119,325, the local median is 15.3% above the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Buenaventura: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Buenaventura Civil Engineer Pay Compares
San Buenaventura median: $119,325/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Buenaventura Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $118,143 | +1.00% more |
| National Average | $103,492 | +15.30% more |
Civil Engineers in San Buenaventura, CA earn a median of $119,325 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.30% higher than the national median of $103,492 and 1.00% above the California state average of $118,143.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Buenaventura has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Buenaventura, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $119,325 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $105,504 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$100,379
2025 BLS Actual
$116,267
2026 Current Est.
$119,325
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in San Buenaventura (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $100,379 | Actual |
| 2020 | $102,120 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,520 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,699 | Actual |
| 2023 | $110,560 | Actual |
| 2024 | $142,783 | Actual |
| 2025 | $116,267 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $119,325 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $122,463 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Buenaventura metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 15.8% from $100,379 (2019) to $116,267 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $122,463 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,084 (22.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Buenaventura 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) | $83,785 – $96,627 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $96,627 – $119,325 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $119,325 – $152,736 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $152,736 – $184,954 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in San Buenaventura
The job market for civil engineers in San Buenaventura remains robust, with 19 professionals currently employed in the area, indicating a steady demand. However, the cost of living, exemplified by an index of 113.1, impacts take-home purchasing power significantly. High-paying employment opportunities often arise from top engineering consulting firms like AECOM and Jacobs, alongside larger construction companies such as Bechtel and Fluor. The variance in salaries can be attributed to factors such as obtaining a Professional Engineer license, specialization in high-demand areas like structural or geotechnical engineering, and whether one is in a government role versus the private sector. For those navigating the civil engineer pay scale in San Buenaventura CA, focusing on skillsets that align with governmental and private sector priorities, as well as pursuing project management or advanced technical roles, can enhance earning potential significantly.
More salary data for San Buenaventura, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make in San Buenaventura, CA in 2026?
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Can civil engineers make $100K in San Buenaventura?
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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 $116,267 for civil engineersin the San Buenaventura 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 San Buenaventura 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