Civil engineer pay in Riverside, CA
Civil engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a typical $115,120 a year. The middle half earn $87,900 to $136,810, and the top 10% earn more than $168,820. About 3,510 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Civil Engineers, SOC 17-2051).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $75,390 |
| 25th percentile | $87,900 |
| Median (typical) | $115,120 |
| 75th percentile | $136,810 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $168,820 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 5 of 50 large metros for civil engineers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $115,120, a single filer keeps about $83,300 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in Riverside are 6% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $78,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks Riverside No. 19 of 50 large metros for civil engineers after cost of living.
Where civil engineers’ pay goes furthest
- Sacramento, CA$130,150 typical · worth $86.6k
- San Jose, CA$130,280 typical · worth $83.7k
- Las Vegas, NV$106,110 typical · worth $83.3k
- Memphis, TN$96,100 typical · worth $82.9k
All 50 metros for civil engineers →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Riverside, CA?
The typical (median) civil engineer in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earns $115,120 a year. The middle half earn between $87,900 and $136,810, and the top 10% earn more than $168,820. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a civil engineer in Riverside?
Anything above $115,120 pays more than half of civil engineers in Riverside. $136,810 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $168,820 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a civil engineer in Riverside take home after taxes?
At the typical $115,120, a single filer keeps about $83,300 a year ($6,950 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 6% above the US average, that buys what $78,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do civil engineers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical civil engineer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV. Riverside, CA ranks No. 19.
More: Civil engineer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Riverside, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.