Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians in Modesto, CA make a median of $95,630 a year, or about $45.98 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $91,855 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,758/month, or 29.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Modesto?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About civil engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Modesto
Modesto sits well above the national pay line for civil engineering technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 47% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,758/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for civil engineering technologists and technicians in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $84K | $74K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $98K | $84K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $81K | $76K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $81K | $72K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level civil engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $85K | +31% | 970 |
| California | $83K | +29% | 7,250 |
| Washington | $80K | +23% | 2,090 |
| Illinois | $79K | +22% | 4,190 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +21% | 2,030 |
| Nevada | $75K | +15% | 800 |
| Vermont | $74K | +14% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | +14% | 1,560 |
| New York | $74K | +14% | 1,710 |
| Connecticut | $73K | +13% | 330 |
| Iowa | $73K | +12% | 1,130 |
| Massachusetts | $71K | +10% | 680 |
| Alaska | $71K | +9% | 230 |
| New Jersey | $71K | +9% | 760 |
| Louisiana | $68K | +5% | 410 |
| Maine | $68K | +4% | 290 |
| Virginia | $67K | +3% | 1,480 |
| Nebraska | $67K | +3% | 370 |
| North Dakota | $65K | +0% | 400 |
| Ohio | $65K | -0% | 1,790 |
| Utah | $64K | -1% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | -1% | 300 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -1% | 120 |
| Indiana | $64K | -1% | 1,040 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | -2% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -2% | 2,290 |
| Arizona | $64K | -2% | 1,050 |
| Florida | $63K | -2% | 4,030 |
| Idaho | $63K | -3% | 440 |
| Maryland | $63K | -3% | 620 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -4% | 710 |
| Delaware | $62K | -4% | 350 |
| Montana | $61K | -5% | 310 |
| Missouri | $61K | -6% | 1,300 |
| South Dakota | $61K | -6% | 460 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -8% | 400 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -8% | 1,860 |
| Kansas | $59K | -8% | 1,060 |
| Texas | $59K | -9% | 4,470 |
| Colorado | $59K | -9% | 1,820 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -10% | 2,760 |
| Michigan | $58K | -11% | 2,930 |
| Tennessee | $57K | -12% | 1,650 |
| Wyoming | $56K | -14% | 300 |
| South Carolina | $54K | -17% | 1,480 |
| West Virginia | $53K | -18% | 520 |
| Alabama | $53K | -19% | 1,800 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -20% | N/A |
| Georgia | $50K | -22% | 3,840 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -29% | 800 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track civil engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Modesto numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineering technologists and technicians in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,772/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is civil engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Modesto?
Local pay is 47% above the national median — $96K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for civil engineering technologists and technicians?
Modesto pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +47%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineering technologists and technicians make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $95,630 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,870, and experienced civil engineering technologists and technicians can clear $105,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,886/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil engineering technologists and technicians salary go in Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median civil engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $91,855 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineering technologists and technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.