How much does an engineer make in California?
$130,900a year
Median yearly pay for engineers in California. That is $62.91 an hour or $10,900 a month.
- Hourly
- $62.91
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among states
- 11 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 28,610
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $74,950Median: $130,900Highest 10%: $212,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,950 | $36.03 | |
| 25th | $98,520 | $47.37 | |
| Median | $130,900 | $62.91 | |
| 75th | $169,800 | $81.65 | |
| 90th | $212,100 | $101.99 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $169,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $159,800 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $141,200 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $140,000 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $136,700 |
| San Diego, CA | $132,800 |
| Chico, CA | $131,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $127,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $125,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $124,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $123,000 |
| Redding, CA | $122,700 |
| Fresno, CA | $122,500 |
| Modesto, CA | $111,800 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $104,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | $102,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $100,100 |
| Salinas, CA | $98,950 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,570 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $97,210 |
| Merced, CA | $90,450 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for engineers.
| 8. New Jersey | $132,500 |
| 9. Massachusetts | $131,300 |
| 10. Idaho | $131,000 |
| 11. California | $130,900 |
| 12. Maryland | $129,800 |
| 13. New Hampshire | $128,100 |
| 14. Vermont | $126,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $62.91 ($130,900 a year).
Do engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $130,900 against $122,900 nationally, 6% more.
Where does California rank for engineer pay?
California ranks 11 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $169,700 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.