What Salem Engineering Group, Inc. does

Salem Engineering Group, Inc. is a privately held, multi-disciplined civil engineering and environmental consulting firm headquartered in Fresno, California. Founded in 2003 by R. Sammy Salem as a one-person operation, the firm has grown to 80+ technical employees operating from seven offices across California (Fresno HQ, Bakersfield, Rancho Cucamonga, Modesto, San Jose), Texas (Dallas), and Colorado (Denver). It delivers professional services across eight core practice areas: drilling services, geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, structural engineering, forensic engineering, construction inspection and material testing, engineering geology and hydrogeology, and civil engineering design and land surveying. Technical capability is anchored by in-house assets including C-57 licensed drilling operations (truck-mounted CME 45 and 55 drill rigs), accredited in-house soil mechanics laboratories (CALTRANS, AASHTO, AMRL, City of Los Angeles, DSA, CCRL certified), and credentialed inspectors with AWS, ACI, ICC, Caltrans, ASNT, AHERA, and DOSH certifications.

The firm sells project-based professional engineering and environmental consulting services on a quote-based pricing model, primarily through direct enterprise field sales and long-term referral relationships. Its go-to-market targets developers, architects, engineers, government and municipal agencies, healthcare facilities, financial institutions, solar/energy developers, attorneys, insurance companies, and private owners. Notable enterprise engagements include a 3-year multi-million dollar contract with Stanford University for the SESI utility distribution project, geotechnical engineering for Bakersfield Heart Hospital expansion, and geotechnical and inspection services for the America's Tire Distribution Center and Lorena Heights Apartments projects. Marketing relies almost exclusively on industry reputation, client referrals, and project case studies rather than digital channels.

Salem generates revenue on a project-by-project basis with pricing determined by scope, site conditions, complexity, and regulatory requirements. Service work spans due diligence (Phase I/II ESAs, hazardous materials surveys), engineering design (foundations, seismic hazard assessments, pavement design), construction-phase inspection and materials testing, and specialized assessments (archaeological, biological, paleontological, hydrogeological). A network of strategically aligned specialty partners - registered archaeologists, biologists, paleontologists, certified industrial hygienists, and state-certified laboratories - extends project delivery capacity without corresponding headcount expansion. The firm is bootstrapped and remains under founder ownership with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or external funding.

Name

Salem Engineering Group, Inc.

Legal name

Salem Engineering Group, Inc.

Website

https://salem.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Salem Engineering Group is a privately held, multi-disciplined engineering and environmental consulting firm providing geotechnical, environmental, structural, forensic, drilling, and construction inspection services to developers, municipalities, healthcare, and institutional clients across California, Texas, and Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical and environmental engineering consulting

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical, Hydrogeological & Seismic Engineering (Slope Stability, Ground Support, Dewatering) (IMAKAOAN)

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering
• Environmental consulting
• Construction material testing
• Civil engineering design
• Land surveying services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Consulting Services: Professional engineering and environmental consulting services billed on a project basis. Services include geotechnical engineering investigations, environmental consulting, construction inspection and material testing, structural engineering, civil engineering design, land surveying, forensic engineering, and drilling services. Projects range from small residential to large commercial and industrial developments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Salem Engineering Group, Inc. is a multi-disciplined engineering and environmental consulting firm that delivers geotechnical, environmental, structural, civil, forensic, and construction-phase engineering services for commercial, residential, industrial, institutional, and public-sector projects. Service delivery is supported by in-house C-57 licensed drilling operations and accredited soil mechanics laboratories, enabling integrated subservice investigations from project inception through final construction.

Product overview

Salem Engineering Group, Inc. is a multi-disciplined engineering and environmental consulting firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional services organized around eight core service areas: Drilling Services, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Consulting, Structural Engineering, Forensic Engineering, Construction Inspection & Material Testing, Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology, and Civil Engineering Design & Land Surveying. The firm operates as a service-based consultancy rather than a software product company, providing specialized sub-services under each core area such as foundation design, seismic hazard evaluation, hazardous materials surveys, archaeological assessments, aquifer testing, and land surveying. These services are delivered through in-house capabilities including certified laboratories (CALTRANS, AASHTO, AMRL, City of Los Angeles, DSA, CCRL accredited), field technicians with professional certifications (AWS, ACI, ICC, Caltrans, ASNT), and specialized equipment including CME truck-mounted drill rigs. The company serves clients throughout California, Texas, and Colorado from multiple office locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drilling Services C-57 licensed drilling contractor providing geotechnical and environmental drilling services throughout California using truck-mounted CME 45 and 55 drill rigs with hollow-stem, solid-flight, and rock core sampling equipment capable of drilling depths exceeding 50 feet; supports site investigations for commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects.
• Geotechnical Engineering Comprehensive geotechnical and geological engineering services including subsurface investigations, laboratory testing, foundation design, seismic hazard evaluations, liquefaction analysis, and slope stability assessments for commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects.
• Environmental Consulting Full-service environmental consulting including Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments, remediation services, hazardous materials surveys, archaeological and biological resource assessments, land use planning, and regulatory compliance for real estate transactions and site development.
• Structural Engineering Structural analysis and design services for residential, commercial, and industrial structures including foundation design, steel and concrete design, lateral analysis, seismic design, and structural inspections using both Allowable Strength Design (ASD) and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methods.
• Forensic Engineering Forensic engineering services investigating structural failures, construction defects, soil-related distress, water intrusion, and foundation damage with expert analysis for litigation support, insurance claims, and repair recommendations.
• Construction Inspection & Material Testing Construction phase inspection and material testing services including deep foundation observations, earthwork compaction testing, concrete and masonry testing, welding inspections, special inspections, and SWPPP inspections with certified technicians holding DSA, AWS, ACI, ICC, and Caltrans qualifications.
• Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology Engineering geology and hydrogeology services including seismic hazard assessments, liquefaction analysis, fault rupture investigations, slope stability analysis, landslide mitigation, dewatering design, aquifer testing, and vadose zone modeling.
• Civil Engineering Design & Land Surveying Civil engineering design and land surveying services including precise grading plans, hydrology studies, wet utility design, public improvement design, erosion control plans, SWPPP development, ALTA/ACSM surveys, topographic surveys, boundary surveys, and construction staking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed a 3-year multi-million dollar contract with Stanford University for the SESI project involving approximately 10,000 linear feet of piping and 5,800 linear feet of duct bank
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered support and minor.

• Registered Professional ArchaeologistssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategically aligned Registered Professional Archaeologists to conduct Archaeological/Cultural Resource Assessments of proposed sites for development, including literature reviews, Phase I surveys, construction monitoring, and National Register eligibility assessments.
• Registered Professional Biologists, Botanists and EcologistssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategically aligned Registered Professional Biologists, Botanists and Ecologists to conduct Biological Resources, Habitat, and Wetlands/Riparian Assessments. Partners have extensive experience surveying terrestrial and aquatic biota using various state and federal protocols.
• Certified Paleontologists and GeologistssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerVast network of strategically aligned partners including certified paleontologists and geologists for Paleontological Resource Assessments, conducting record searches, reviewing geologic and paleontological literature, and documenting existing site conditions.
• Certified Industrial HygienistssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategically aligned Certified Industrial Hygienists to conduct Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) investigations, providing sampling and visual inspection services for cost-effective solutions to employee workplace air quality concerns.
• State-certified LaboratoriessupportTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with State-certified laboratories for analysis of soil, soil vapor, and groundwater samples. Samples are either analyzed on-site using mobile laboratories or shipped to certified facilities according to standard industry methods.
• Licensed Waste Acceptance FacilitiesminorOthersIdentification and coordination with appropriate licensed waste acceptance facilities for off-site disposal of contaminated soil, profiling, and transportation services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haley & Aldrich: Haley & Aldrich is a geotechnical and environmental engineering consultancy focused on complex site characterization, foundation engineering, and remediation, with significant work for institutional, real estate, and infrastructure clients comparable to Salem's customer mix.
• GeoEngineers: GeoEngineers is a geotechnical and environmental sciences firm offering subsurface exploration, foundation design, and environmental services across the western U.S., making it a close peer in both service mix and regional footprint to Salem's California-heavy base.
• Terracon: Terracon is a national geotechnical, environmental, construction materials, and facilities consulting firm. Its service portfolio (subsurface investigations, environmental due diligence, materials testing, drilling) directly overlaps with Salem's eight core service areas.
• Kleinfelder: Kleinfelder is a multi-disciplined engineering, environmental, and geotechnical consulting firm with similar service offerings (geotechnical engineering, environmental site assessments, construction inspection, drilling) and a comparable mix of public- and private-sector clients across the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with geotechnical, environmental, and civil engineering practices that compete with Salem on large public-sector and commercial pursuits; much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a global consulting and engineering firm with deep environmental and geotechnical practices serving water, energy, and infrastructure clients. It overlaps with Salem on environmental site assessments and remediation but operates at significantly larger scale across the full project lifecycle.
• WSP: WSP is a global engineering consultancy with geotechnical and environmental services (notably including the acquired Golder Associates). It competes for the same enterprise and public-sector clients as Salem but at much larger scale and global footprint.
• TRC Companies: TRC is a national engineering, environmental, and construction management firm with overlapping capabilities in environmental site assessments, remediation, geotechnical, and infrastructure consulting, but with broader geographic and service coverage than Salem.
• Stantec: Stantec is a multinational engineering, environmental, and design firm with geotechnical, environmental site assessment, and civil engineering practices that compete with Salem across North American infrastructure and real estate development markets.

Regional players

• Conetec: Conetec is a North American geotechnical and environmental drilling services contractor that overlaps with Salem's drilling services line of business; it primarily serves as a subcontractor rather than a competing consultant and operates mainly across the U.S. and Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salem Engineering Group, Inc.