How much does a mechanical engineer make in Santa Cruz?
$132,900a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $63.90 an hour or $11,080 a month.
- Hourly
- $63.90
- Vs. national median
- +28%
- Rank among cities
- 4 of 346
- Jobs in the area
- 190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $94,180Median: $132,900Highest 10%: $211,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $94,180 | $45.28 | |
| 25th | $108,700 | $52.26 | |
| Median | $132,900 | $63.90 | |
| 75th | $165,100 | $79.36 | |
| 90th | $211,300 | $101.57 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers.
| San Jose, CA | $168,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,400 |
| 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 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,800 |
| Redding, CA | $106,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $105,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $102,300 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $92,770 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,400 |
| Engineer | $141,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $133,600 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,700 |
| Civil Engineer | $118,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $63.90 ($132,900 a year).
Do mechanical engineers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $132,900 against $104,100 nationally, 28% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $130,900, so Santa Cruz pays 2% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for mechanical engineer pay?
4 of 346 metro areas with data.
How much does a mechanical engineer make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $94,180 or less a year; the top 10% make $211,300 or more.
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.