Licensed Professional Engineer Salary in California

How much does a Licensed Professional Engineer make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Professional Engineer in California is $88,638 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

However, a Licensed Professional Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,512
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,985 to $94,853
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,928
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $81,985 10% $75,928 90% $100,512 75% $94,853 $88,638 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Licensed Professional Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $94,853 $7,904 $1,824 $46
Average $88,638 $7,387 $1,705 $43
25th Percentile $81,985 $6,832 $1,577 $39
Check out Licensed Professional Engineer Job Openings in California
Licensed Mental Health Professional

Hope The Mission - Los Angeles, CA

Licensed Mental Health Professional

Wellpath - Nevada City, CA

Licensed Mental Health Professional

Wellpath - Santa Maria, CA

Licensed Professional Counselor

Headway - Vermont, CA

Search More Licensed Professional Engineer Jobs in California

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Professional Engineer Salaries

A Licensed Professional Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Professional Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Professional Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $88,181
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $101,976
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $122,580
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $155,147
  • Expert (over 8 years): $179,138
Levels Salary
Licensed ... Level Licensed Professional Engineer$88,181
Engineer ... Level Licensed Professional Engineer$101,976
Engineer ... Level Licensed Professional Engineer$122,580
Engineer ... Level Licensed Professional Engineer$155,147
Engineer ... Level Licensed Professional Engineer$179,138
$88,181 0 yr
$101,976 < 2 yrs
$122,580 2-4 yrs
$155,147 5-8 yrs
$179,138 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Professional Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Los Angeles: $88,791
  • West Hollywood: $88,727
  • Dodgertown: $88,790

Licensed Professional Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Professional Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Licensed Professional Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Licensed Professional Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Licensed Professional Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$110,798$53.025%
Energy & Utilities$106,366$51.020%
Aerospace & Defense$101,934$49.015%
Internet$101,934$49.015%
Chemicals$97,502$47.010%

Licensed Professional Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Professional Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Licensed Professional Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Licensed Professional Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Farmers Insurance - Kwainoe District Manager

    San Jose, CA

    Farmers Insurance - Kwainoe District Manager | San Jose, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Grow Your Insurance Career. Looking for a. career change. or a high-earning opportunity. Join one of. Farmers Insurance. ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Allstate Insurance Agency - Nathelia Hungerford

    Monterey, CA

    Allstate Insurance Agency - Nathelia Hungerford | Monterey, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. Bonus based on performance. Flexible schedule. Opportunity for advancement. Paid time off. Competitive salary. ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Allstate Insurance Agency - Rizwanuddin Shaikh

    Millbrae, CA

    Allstate Insurance Agency - Rizwanuddin Shaikh | Millbrae, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. 401(k) matching. Bonus based on performance. Company parties. Competitive salary. Opportunity for advancement. ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • e-Solutions Inc

    San Diego, CA

    e-Solutions Inc | San Diego, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Role: Licensed Healthcare Professional (Professional Nurse). Job Location: San Diego, CA 92127 (Onsite). Job Type: Co... more

    6 Days Ago

  • StaffMyAgency LLC

    San Jose, CA

    StaffMyAgency LLC | San Jose, CA

    Licensed Insurance Sales Professional. Repost Job Date: - 7/11/2026 8:30:43 PM. Location: - San Jose, CA, 95125. Salary: - $350000.0 - $450000.0/year. Expe... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Wellpath

    Fairfield, CA

    Wellpath | Fairfield, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Overview. As a Licensed Mental Health Professional working in a correctional facility, your responsibilities include cond... more

    8 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In California

Cost of Living in California is
10.3% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst