How much does a mechanical engineer make in California?
$130,900a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers in California. That is $62.93 an hour or $10,910 a month.
- Hourly
- $62.93
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among states
- 3 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 30,530
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $82,070Median: $130,900Highest 10%: $203,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,070 | $39.46 | |
| 25th | $102,400 | $49.21 | |
| Median | $130,900 | $62.93 | |
| 75th | $166,600 | $80.09 | |
| 90th | $203,600 | $97.89 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $168,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,400 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $132,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $132,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $123,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $121,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $121,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $121,000 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $120,700 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $119,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $117,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $117,400 |
| Napa, CA | $112,700 |
| Chico, CA | $109,200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,800 |
| Redding, CA | $106,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $105,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $102,300 |
| Yuba City, CA | $101,300 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $92,770 |
| Merced, CA | $79,600 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for mechanical engineers.
| 1. New Mexico | $157,700 |
| 2. District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| 3. California | $130,900 |
| 4. Delaware | $125,100 |
| 5. Colorado | $124,400 |
| 6. Alaska | $124,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $62.93 ($130,900 a year).
Do mechanical engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $130,900 against $104,100 nationally, 26% more.
Where does California rank for mechanical engineer pay?
California ranks 3 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays mechanical engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $168,000 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.