Civil Engineers Salary in San Jose, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Civil Engineers in San Jose, CA have a median annual salary of $130,280, with 3,170 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $81,790 at the 10th percentile to $205,330 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$130,280

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$62.64

Employment

3,170

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$81,790
10th
$100,300
25th
$130,280
Median
$166,320
75th
$205,330
90th

Local compared with national

San Jose, CA

$130,280

Median annual · 2025

United States

$100,840

Median annual · 2025

The San Jose, CA median is 29.2% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $29,440).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.9
  3. 3.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  4. 4.MathematicsImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.9
  6. 6.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.9
  7. 7.ScienceImportance 3.8
  8. 8.Systems AnalysisImportance 3.8
  9. 9.Time ManagementImportance 3.8
  10. 10.Operations AnalysisImportance 3.6
  11. 11.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.4
  12. 12.WritingImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Apache Subversion SVN
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Autodesk Land Desktop
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bentley GeoPak Bridge
  • Bentley Haestad Methods CivilStorm
  • Bentley InRoads Suite
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Bentley STAAD
  • Bridge design software
  • C
  • Cartography software

Common tasks

  • Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
  • Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
  • Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
  • Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
  • Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
  • Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
  • Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
  • Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.
  • Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.
  • Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Civil Engineers salary in other locations

Other occupations in San Jose, CA