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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Civil Engineer H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA

Employers have filed 61 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Civil Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $110,000. That's 49% higher than the national Civil Engineer H-1B median of $73,840 across all U.S. locations, and 29% lower than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $155,000. Civil Engineer ranks #112 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.

Headline numbers for Civil Engineer H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #5,721 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Civil Engineer hiring.

$110,000
Median Salary
61
Certified Filings
$78,270
10th Percentile
$150,000
90th Percentile

Civil Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $71,730 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $92,934 and $135,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Civil Engineers land. The median of $110,000 sits 49% higher than the national Civil Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$78,270
25th percentile
$92,934
Median
$110,000
75th percentile
$135,000
90th percentile
$150,000
Middle 50% of Civil Engineer H-1B salaries in San Francisco, CA: $92,934 to $135,000

Top Employers Hiring Civil Engineers in San Francisco, CA

SPARK SERVICES is the largest H-1B sponsor for Civil Engineer in San Francisco, CA, with 9 certified filings (15% of local Civil Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $105,000. Among the top sponsors, GCI pays the highest median at $149,000. The pay spread across top employers is 42%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
SPARK SERVICES
$105,000
GCI
$149,000
PHOENIX ELECTRIC
$110,000

Pay spread among top employers: 42% ($105,000 at SPARK SERVICES to $149,000 at GCI)

Employer Filings Median Salary
SPARK SERVICES 9 $105,000
GCI 5 $149,000
PGH WONG ENGINEERING 5 $135,000
FONTENOY ENGINEERING 4 $116,438
PHOENIX ELECTRIC 4 $110,000

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Civil Engineer H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in San Francisco, CA, which tells you whether Civil Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Civil Engineer
+49%
49% higher than the national Civil Engineer H-1B median of $73,840.
vs. San Francisco, CA Average
-29%
29% lower than the overall H-1B median in San Francisco, CA ($155,000).

Civil Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Civil Engineer is an active H-1B role. Tamuning, GU has the most filings (495) outside San Francisco, CA. The highest median among these is New York, NY at $86,986. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Tamuning, GU 495 $58,000
New York, NY 246 $86,986
Harmon, GU 132 $50,045
Houston, TX 100 $81,037
Barrigada, GU 85 $50,045
Dededo, GU 74 $58,000
Chicago, IL 54 $83,200
Tumon, GU 53 $50,045

Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Civil Engineer role here (13,033 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $210,850.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 13,033 $165,605
Senior Software Engineer 4,884 $180,000
Data Scientist 1,537 $150,488
Product Manager 1,504 $164,500
Engineering Manager 1,087 $210,850
Software Engineer II 1,081 $165,000
Staff Software Engineer 1,032 $207,000
Accountant 1,030 $107,500
Consultant 969 $120,000
Associate 838 $138,200

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Civil Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $110,000, based on 61 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 49% higher than the national Civil Engineer H-1B median of $73,840 across all U.S. locations. It is also 29% lower than the overall H-1B median of $155,000 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $71,730 range from the 10th percentile ($78,270) to the 90th percentile ($150,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $92,934 and $135,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

SPARK SERVICES is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 9 certified filings at a median salary of $105,000. Among the top employers, GCI pays the highest median at $149,000. The pay spread across top employers is 42%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Civil Engineer H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 61 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.

What is the average Civil Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Civil Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA is $110,000, based on 61 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$78,270
25th percentile
$92,934
Median
$110,000
75th percentile
$135,000
90th percentile
$150,000

The salary distribution for Civil Engineer roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $78,270, while the 90th percentile earns $150,000. This $71,730 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Civil Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA are 16% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Civil Engineers in San Francisco, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Civil Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA are:

SPARK SERVICES
$105,000
GCI
$149,000
PHOENIX ELECTRIC
$110,000

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Civil Engineer roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. SPARK SERVICES leads with 9 filings at a median salary of $105,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $105,000 to $149,000.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Civil Engineer in San Francisco, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Civil Engineer in San Francisco, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 61 H-1B positions for Civil Engineers in San Francisco, CA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.