Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Structural Engineer in California is $137,885 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.
However, a Principal Structural Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
Principal Structural Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $149,085 | $12,424 | $2,867 | $72 |
| Average | $137,885 | $11,490 | $2,652 | $66 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,572 | $10,714 | $2,473 | $62 |
Saratech - Mission Viejo, CA
SI Solutions, LLC - Sacramento, CA
Cannon Corp - Huntington, CA
Cannon Corp - San Luis Obispo, CA
A Principal Structural 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.
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Principal Structural Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Principal Structural Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Principal Structural Engineer positions in MFG Durable or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Structural Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $206,827 | $99.0 | 50% |
| Business Services | $165,462 | $80.0 | 20% |
Understanding how a Principal Structural 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $149,085 | $12,424 | $2,867 | $72 |
| Average | $137,885 | $11,490 | $2,652 | $66 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,572 | $10,714 | $2,473 | $62 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Principal Structural Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Praxis Consolidated International I
San Luis Obispo, CA
Praxis Consolidated International I | San Luis Obispo, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. 401(k). Dental insurance. Health insurance. Vision insurance. About Praxis Engineering. Praxis Engineering tran... more
6 Days Ago
Onward Search
Sunland, CA
Onward Search | Sunland, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Shape the skyline as our Principal Structural Engineer, Seismic Retrofit Lead. Picture your week: You start on Monday at ... more
6 Days Ago
Degenkolb Engineers
Anaheim, CA
Degenkolb Engineers | Anaheim, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Position Description. We are looking for a highly-skilled structural engineer with a demonstrated history of success work... more
3 Days Ago
Degenkolb Engineers
Los Angeles, CA
Degenkolb Engineers | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Company Background. Founded in 1940 and headquartered in San Francisco, Degenkolb Engineers has more than eight decades o... more
5 Days Ago
Degenkolb Engineers
Los Angeles, CA
Degenkolb Engineers | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Company Background. Founded in 1940 and headquartered in San Francisco, Degenkolb Engineers has more than eight decades o... more
3 Days Ago
Degenkolb Engineers
Los Angeles, CA
Degenkolb Engineers | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Position Description. Are you a structural engineer eager to pivot into the exciting world of Construction Engineering to... more
5 Days Ago
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.
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.
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 CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
