salary$119,980 a year$58 an hour · median pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$78,580per year
Top pay (top 10%)$171,050per year
Jobs in the area610people work this job
Can a civil engineer afford Santa Maria?
Cheap. Rent of $1,987 a month takes 19.9% of the median civil engineer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Civil Engineer pay in similar cities
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median pay for a civil engineer in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area is $119,980 a year ($58 an hour). Most earn between $78,580 and $171,050.
Can a civil engineer afford to live in Santa Maria?
Typical rent of $1,987 a month takes 19.9% of the median civil engineer salary, which we rate Cheap.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area.