Sources: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
California state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 14, 2026. These are the ranges California sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Transportation Engineer (Civil) Class 3135 Grade 3135 Range A | $6,488.00 – $7,735.00 a month $77,856 – $92,820 a year |
Grade 3135 Range B | $7,428.00 – $9,296.00 a month $89,136 – $111,552 a year |
Grade 3135 Range C | $8,896.00 – $11,131.00 a month $106,752 – $133,572 a year |
Grade 3135 Range D | $9,712.00 – $12,152.00 a month $116,544 – $145,824 a year |
| Transportation Engineer, (Electrical) Class 3609 Grade 3609 Range A | $6,488.00 – $7,735.00 a month $77,856 – $92,820 a year |
Grade 3609 Range B | $7,428.00 – $9,296.00 a month $89,136 – $111,552 a year |
Grade 3609 Range C | $8,896.00 – $11,131.00 a month $106,752 – $133,572 a year |
Grade 3609 Range D | $9,712.00 – $12,152.00 a month $116,544 – $145,824 a year |
| Associate Bridge Engineer Class 3186 Grade 3186 Range A | $9,754.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,048 – $146,496 a year |
Grade 3186 Range S | $9,756.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,072 – $146,496 a year |
| Associate Civil Engineer Class 3123 Grade 3123 Range A | $9,754.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,048 – $146,496 a year |
Grade 3123 Range S | $9,756.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,072 – $146,496 a year |
| Associate Transportation Engineer, Caltrans Class 3167 Grade 3167 Range A | $9,754.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,048 – $146,496 a year |
Grade 3167 Range S | $9,756.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,072 – $146,496 a year |
| Associate Transportation Engineer, Caltrans (Registered) Class 3169 Grade 3169 Range A | $9,754.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,048 – $146,496 a year |
Grade 3169 Range S | $9,756.00 – $12,208.00 a month $117,072 – $146,496 a year |
| Associate Transportation Engineer, Caltrans (Specialist) Class 9619 Grade 9619 | $10,087.00 – $13,265.00 a month $121,044 – $159,180 a year |
| Senior Bridge Engineer Class 3185 Grade 3185 Range A | $11,437.00 – $14,315.00 a month $137,244 – $171,780 a year |
Grade 3185 Range S | $11,437.00 – $14,315.00 a month $137,244 – $171,780 a year |
| Senior Civil Engineer Class 3120 Grade 3120 | $11,437.00 – $14,315.00 a month $137,244 – $171,780 a year |
| Senior Transportation Engineer, Caltrans Class 3161 Grade 3161 Range A | $11,437.00 – $14,315.00 a month $137,244 – $171,780 a year |
Grade 3161 Range L | $11,437.00 – $14,315.00 a month $137,244 – $171,780 a year |
Grade 3161 Range S | $11,437.00 – $14,315.00 a month $137,244 – $171,780 a year |
| Principal Bridge Engineer Class 3183 Grade 3183 | $15,263.00 – $17,336.00 a month $183,156 – $208,032 a year |
| Principal Transportation Engineer, Caltrans Class 3152 Grade 3152 | $15,263.00 – $17,336.00 a month $183,156 – $208,032 a year |
Schedule: Civil Service Pay Scale (Section 17, by schematic code). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in California, all employers Sourced
Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) in California, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | CA |
|---|---|
| Workers | 55,180 |
| 10th percentile | $77,980 |
| Median | $122,500 |
| 90th percentile | $175,940 |
| National median, government employers | $108,820 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county) page.