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Professional Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Professional Engineering information

See California salary details

$45.9K

$95.8K

$134.7K

How much do professional engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional engineering in California is $95,792.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,400.00 and $108,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges professional engineers face when working on multidisciplinary projects?

Professional engineers often collaborate with teams from different disciplines, such as architects, construction managers, and environmental specialists. One common challenge is ensuring effective communication across these diverse teams, as each may have its own technical language and priorities. Additionally, coordinating project timelines and integrating various technical requirements can be complex. Developing strong project management and interpersonal skills is key to overcoming these hurdles and delivering successful outcomes.

What can professional engineers do?

Professional engineers design, develop, and evaluate systems, structures, and products across various industries such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. They apply technical knowledge, use engineering tools, and often require licensure to approve projects and ensure safety standards are met.

What is the difference between Professional Engineering vs Mechanical Engineering?

AspectProfessional EngineeringMechanical Engineering
CredentialsRequires PE license, degree, work experience, examRequires degree, possibly internship, but not necessarily PE license
Work EnvironmentDesign, review, and approve engineering projects; often in consulting or governmentDesign, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of mechanical systems
Industry UsageUsed across multiple engineering disciplines, especially in regulated projectsPrimarily in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors

Professional Engineering (PE) is a licensed credential that allows engineers to sign off on projects and work independently, often in consulting or regulatory roles. Mechanical Engineering is a specific discipline focused on designing and analyzing mechanical systems. While many mechanical engineers pursue PE licensure, it is not mandatory for all roles. The main difference lies in licensure and scope of practice, with PE providing legal authority to approve projects.

What is professional engineering?

Professional engineering refers to the practice of applying scientific and mathematical principles to design, develop, and oversee projects in various engineering fields. Professional engineers (PEs) are licensed individuals who have met education, experience, and examination requirements, allowing them to take legal responsibility for engineering work. They ensure public safety, compliance with regulations, and uphold ethical standards. Obtaining a PE license often leads to greater career opportunities, leadership roles, and increased trust from employers and clients.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, problem-solving abilities, and typically a relevant engineering degree along with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, MATLAB, and project management tools, as well as knowledge of applicable codes and regulations, is essential. Strong communication, teamwork, and analytical thinking are valuable soft skills that set top performers apart. These competencies ensure engineers can design effective solutions, maintain safety and compliance, and collaborate efficiently on complex projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Engineering jobs in California?

The most popular types of Engineering jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Professional Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Professional Engineering job openings:

Professional Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Professional Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,792 per year, or $46.1 per hour.

Supervisory Civil Engineer

Recruitment and Hiring | US Forest Service

Bishop, CA

$106K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

This announcement is being advertised as a Forest Service National Hiring effort to fill multiple vacancies. Positions may be filled at one or more of the duty locations included in this announcement. Final determination of the duty location will be made at the time of the job offer.
? For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Benjamin Goodin at benjamin.goodin@usda.gov.
Qualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Basic Requirement
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
  1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
In addition to meeting the basic requirement listed above, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-13 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following:
  • Prepared project plans, designs, specifications, and cost estimates for civil engineering projects such as roads, trails, bridges, facilities, and structures, including watershed restoration projects;
  • Assisted with the development of strategic engineering plans involving program, project, budget, and organizational elements to achieve objectives for an organization;
  • Analyzed engineering program effectiveness to identify objectives; and/or
  • Provided administrative and technical advice, consultation, and assistance to coworkers and entry-level engineers.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.Employment Type: OTHER

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