Mechanical Engineer Salary in California: $138,992 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median mechanical engineer pay sits at $138,992/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 17-2141. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $122,893 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($171,975), Santa Clara ($170,846), San Jose ($168,030).

Mechanical Engineer Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California mechanical engineer salary overview (2026)

$138,992

Avg Median Salary

$66.83

Avg Hourly Rate

32,239

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, mechanical engineers can expect an average median salary of $138,992 in 2026, which is significantly higher than the national average of $107,150, resulting in a salary premium of 29.7%. The highest paying city for mechanical engineers is Sunnyvale at $176,997, while the lowest is Merced at $81,924, demonstrating a salary gap of $95,073. This disparity is driven by factors such as the concentration of technology companies in the Bay Area, which generates higher demand for skilled engineers, while other regions may have fewer opportunities. California's specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws also impact salaries, as engineers often need to navigate complex regulations that vary by industry. The job market for mechanical engineers shows a projected growth rate of 2.92% annually, indicating steady demand for professionals in this field. Cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, Oakland, and Fremont follow Sunnyvale in salary rankings, with expected earnings of $175,835, $172,936, $169,862, and $166,115, respectively. Overall, California presents a strong job outlook for mechanical engineers, with ample opportunities for growth and competitive salaries across various metropolitan areas.

California Mechanical Engineer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$89,424

avg across 157 cities

Median

$138,992

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$192,471

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $61,402 (lowest entry-level) to $274,345 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$138,992

National Median

$107,150

California mechanical engineers earn 29.72% more than the national median (+$31,842/year difference).

California Mechanical Engineer Salary Distribution (2026)

Mechanical Engineer salaries in California range from $89,424 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $192,471 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $138,992. The California median is $31,842 above the US national median of $107,150. The average hourly rate is $66.83/hr. Approximately 32,239 mechanical engineers are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$103,858

2025 BLS Actual

$135,049

2026 Current Est.

$138,992

2019–2027 Growth

+37.7%

Salary Trajectory for Mechanical Engineers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.92% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$103,858	Actual
2020	$106,372	Actual
2021	$106,705	Actual
2022	$111,259	Actual
2023	$120,688	Actual
2024	$127,367	Actual
2025	$135,049	Actual
2026(current)	$138,992	Estimated
2027	$143,051	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median mechanical engineer salary grew 30.0% from $103,858 (2019) to $135,049 (2025). At a 2.92% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $143,051 by 2027 — a total increase of $39,193 (37.74%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.92% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $85.09/hr

$176,997

+27.34% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $84.54/hr

$175,835

+26.51% vs avg

San Jose

5,540 employed · $83.15/hr

$172,936

+24.42% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $81.67/hr

$169,862

+22.21% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $79.87/hr

$166,115

+19.51% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Merced	$81,924	-41.06%	$39.39
Visalia	$95,479	-31.31%	$45.90
Fresno	$101,623	-26.89%	$48.86
Yuba City	$104,227	-25.01%	$50.11
San Luis Obispo	$105,256	-24.27%	$50.61

Best Value Cities for Mechanical Engineers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for mechanical engineers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$172,936	110.423	$156,612
Sunnyvale	$176,997	113.1	$156,496
Santa Clara	$175,835	113.1	$155,469
Oakland	$169,862	113.1	$150,187
Fremont	$166,115	113.1	$146,874

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$89,424	$42.99	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$138,992	$66.83	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$192,471	$92.53	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$176,997	$85.09	$123,535	$274,345	26
2	Santa Clara	$175,835	$84.54	$120,870	$272,543	32
3	San Jose	$172,936	$83.15	$108,478	$223,882	5,540
4	Oakland	$169,862	$81.67	$114,981	$263,287	78
5	Fremont	$166,115	$79.87	$106,734	$257,478	43
6	San Francisco	$166,082	$79.85	$105,709	$218,581	5,150
7	Santa Cruz	$136,801	$65.78	$96,930	$217,429	190
8	Salinas	$136,431	$65.59	$71,262	$180,316	70
9	Anaheim	$129,787	$62.40	$86,747	$201,171	51
10	Santa Ana	$128,000	$61.54	$83,851	$198,399	69
11	Long Beach	$127,941	$61.50	$82,815	$198,308	89
12	Los Angeles	$127,518	$61.31	$79,290	$178,402	8,780
13	Fontana	$125,631	$60.40	$82,407	$194,729	32
14	Irvine	$125,493	$60.33	$87,625	$194,515	72
15	Chula Vista	$125,450	$60.31	$80,300	$194,448	51
16	Folsom	$125,344	$60.26	$85,367	$194,283	17
17	San Diego	$125,305	$60.25	$83,839	$177,805	3,370
18	Pomona	$124,880	$60.04	$86,659	$193,564	36
19	Simi Valley	$124,812	$60.00	$86,878	$193,459	23
20	Escondido	$124,783	$59.99	$86,935	$193,414	31
21	Santa Maria	$124,667	$59.93	$86,947	$177,105	390
22	Fairfield	$124,558	$59.88	$86,294	$193,065	25
23	Sacramento	$124,502	$59.86	$85,413	$175,582	1,480
24	Carlsbad	$124,257	$59.73	$89,766	$192,599	23
25	Santa Rosa	$124,173	$59.69	$78,703	$175,880	150
26	Fullerton	$124,100	$59.66	$84,871	$192,354	25
27	Daly City	$123,992	$59.61	$84,626	$192,188	20
28	Roseville	$123,990	$59.61	$90,770	$192,185	35
29	El Monte	$123,953	$59.59	$85,035	$192,127	20
30	Vista	$123,885	$59.56	$84,879	$192,022	24
31	Concord	$123,856	$59.55	$84,813	$191,977	29
32	Clovis	$123,670	$59.46	$84,390	$191,688	19
33	Garden Grove	$123,543	$59.40	$83,606	$191,492	37
34	Temecula	$123,514	$59.38	$84,036	$191,448	25
35	Santa Clarita	$123,431	$59.34	$86,681	$191,318	41
36	Bakersfield	$123,288	$59.27	$80,782	$176,549	560
37	Lancaster	$123,270	$59.26	$83,484	$191,069	40
38	Inglewood	$123,270	$59.26	$83,484	$191,069	21
39	Corona	$123,114	$59.19	$83,007	$190,827	24
40	Richmond	$123,094	$59.18	$82,592	$190,796	25
41	Rialto	$123,036	$59.15	$82,955	$190,706	17
42	Petaluma	$122,986	$59.13	$90,892	$190,628	12
43	Torrance	$122,879	$59.08	$82,109	$190,463	26
44	Elk Grove	$122,646	$58.96	$81,952	$190,100	25
45	Oceanside	$122,616	$58.95	$81,886	$190,054	28
46	Whittier	$122,580	$58.93	$87,548	$189,999	22
47	San Rafael	$122,571	$58.93	$87,400	$189,984	11
48	Rancho Cucamonga	$122,459	$58.87	$81,536	$189,812	46
49	Hayward	$122,391	$58.84	$81,383	$189,706	23
50	Woodland	$122,360	$58.83	$86,905	$189,657	15
51	Buena Park	$122,341	$58.82	$86,986	$189,629	20
52	Encinitas	$122,331	$58.81	$86,963	$189,412	16
53	Downey	$122,324	$58.81	$80,862	$189,601	22
54	Dublin	$122,255	$58.78	$86,783	$189,451	14
55	Redlands	$122,216	$58.76	$86,694	$189,436	16
56	Chino	$122,150	$58.73	$86,412	$188,760	17
57	Westminster	$122,111	$58.71	$85,947	$189,273	21
58	Santa Monica	$122,101	$58.71	$86,299	$188,589	20
59	San Mateo	$122,089	$58.70	$80,707	$189,238	21
60	Tulare	$122,054	$58.67	$86,188	$188,418	17
61	San Buenaventura	$122,011	$58.65	$89,735	$189,117	19
62	Mission Viejo	$121,929	$58.62	$86,022	$188,284	23
63	Moreno Valley	$121,928	$58.62	$83,857	$188,989	53
64	Pleasanton	$121,910	$58.61	$85,977	$188,960	16
65	Pasadena	$121,737	$58.53	$86,112	$188,692	35
66	Santee	$121,651	$58.49	$85,374	$187,290	9
67	Glendale	$121,542	$58.44	$88,658	$188,391	36
68	Mountain View	$121,480	$58.41	$84,974	$186,675	13
69	Pittsburg	$121,470	$58.40	$84,454	$188,279	19
70	Novato	$121,431	$58.38	$84,738	$186,194	11
71	Costa Mesa	$121,386	$58.36	$85,316	$188,148	23
72	Berkeley	$121,259	$58.29	$88,011	$187,951	23
73	Huntington Beach	$121,229	$58.28	$88,308	$187,906	50
74	Jurupa Valley	$121,122	$58.23	$88,063	$187,739	24
75	Hemet	$121,087	$58.21	$84,064	$185,279	14
76	Union City	$121,078	$58.21	$84,042	$185,245	11
77	West Covina	$121,064	$58.20	$87,930	$187,649	25
78	Chino Hills	$121,030	$58.19	$83,807	$187,596	21
79	Gilroy	$120,858	$58.11	$83,533	$187,330	10
80	Stockton	$120,849	$58.10	$62,946	$174,861	220
81	Oxnard	$120,807	$58.08	$83,561	$166,936	950
82	San Marcos	$120,791	$58.08	$82,885	$187,226	17
83	Tustin	$120,685	$58.03	$82,642	$187,062	18
84	San Ramon	$120,676	$58.02	$83,114	$187,048	19
85	Eastvale	$120,560	$57.96	$82,850	$186,869	10
86	Murrieta	$120,556	$57.96	$86,895	$186,863	25
87	Vacaville	$120,556	$57.96	$86,895	$186,863	15
88	Brentwood	$120,504	$57.93	$82,718	$186,781	13
89	Hesperia	$120,446	$57.90	$82,586	$186,692	14
90	Lake Elsinore	$120,437	$57.90	$82,564	$186,677	18
91	Thousand Oaks	$120,320	$57.84	$88,220	$186,495	32
92	Citrus Heights	$120,284	$57.83	$82,212	$186,440	19
93	El Cajon	$120,176	$57.78	$82,112	$186,272	18
94	San Clemente	$120,140	$57.76	$81,761	$186,216	10
95	Bellflower	$120,092	$57.74	$81,774	$186,143	11
96	Palmdale	$120,039	$57.71	$85,604	$186,060	29
97	La Mirada	$120,038	$57.71	$88,146	$180,640	10
98	Apple Valley	$120,016	$57.70	$81,600	$185,560	19
99	Menifee	$119,980	$57.69	$85,591	$185,969	20
100	Yucaipa	$119,930	$57.66	$81,403	$185,891	14
101	Norwalk	$119,921	$57.66	$85,339	$185,878	22
102	Rancho Cordova	$119,814	$57.60	$81,140	$185,712	20
103	Montebello	$119,700	$57.55	$80,880	$185,535	16
104	Compton	$119,652	$57.52	$80,647	$184,269	25
105	Porterville	$119,566	$57.48	$80,575	$184,271	11
106	Lompoc	$119,551	$57.48	$87,094	$178,943	8
107	Hawthorne	$119,365	$57.39	$80,118	$183,559	13
108	Antioch	$119,326	$57.37	$84,002	$184,957	17
109	Burbank	$119,316	$57.37	$80,207	$184,940	22
110	Lodi	$119,181	$57.30	$87,150	$184,731	14
111	Alhambra	$119,039	$57.23	$88,904	$184,511	13
112	Livermore	$119,039	$57.23	$84,943	$184,511	21
113	Orange	$119,004	$57.21	$83,402	$184,456	21
114	South Gate	$119,001	$57.21	$88,328	$184,452	25
115	Victorville	$118,974	$57.20	$83,336	$184,410	30
116	West Sacramento	$118,934	$57.18	$88,172	$184,348	9
117	Poway	$118,903	$57.16	$85,540	$176,996	8
118	San Leandro	$118,743	$57.09	$88,090	$184,052	23
119	Indio	$118,609	$57.03	$87,414	$183,844	23
120	Lake Forest	$118,609	$57.03	$87,414	$183,844	14
121	Carson	$118,398	$56.93	$87,410	$183,517	21
122	Rocklin	$118,380	$56.91	$87,367	$183,489	10
123	Newport Beach	$118,179	$56.81	$86,901	$183,177	12
124	Redwood City	$118,169	$56.81	$86,756	$183,162	13
125	Turlock	$118,140	$56.80	$86,691	$183,116	17
126	Manteca	$118,102	$56.78	$86,722	$183,058	13
127	Perris	$118,092	$56.77	$86,217	$183,043	12
128	Madera	$117,997	$56.73	$86,480	$182,895	8
129	Baldwin Park	$117,787	$56.63	$85,873	$182,570	19
130	Palo Alto	$117,787	$56.63	$85,994	$182,570	15
131	Lakewood	$117,738	$56.61	$85,884	$182,495	19
132	Hanford	$117,500	$56.49	$85,213	$182,124	10
133	Beaumont	$117,394	$56.44	$84,611	$181,961	9
134	Tracy	$117,365	$56.42	$85,025	$181,915	14
135	Alameda	$117,327	$56.41	$84,938	$181,857	12
136	Laguna Niguel	$117,298	$56.39	$84,391	$181,812	16
137	Milpitas	$117,241	$56.37	$84,740	$181,724	16
138	Camarillo	$116,992	$56.25	$84,171	$181,338	13
139	Oakley	$116,944	$56.23	$80,905	$181,263	8
140	Davis	$116,916	$56.20	$83,877	$181,219	14
141	Upland	$116,830	$56.16	$83,321	$181,086	18
142	La Habra	$116,658	$56.08	$83,288	$180,819	16
143	Lynwood	$116,609	$56.06	$83,298	$180,745	16
144	Napa	$115,960	$55.75	$80,175	$168,480	30
145	Brea	$114,619	$55.10	$84,878	$177,377	10
146	Chico	$112,399	$54.04	$77,890	$208,907	40
147	Vallejo	$109,919	$52.84	$80,134	$165,372	130
148	Ontario	$109,429	$52.61	$74,659	$169,614	42
149	Redding	$109,075	$52.44	$61,402	$165,866	60
150	San Bernardino	$108,107	$51.97	$69,634	$167,566	33
151	Modesto	$108,056	$51.95	$69,697	$167,574	120
152	Riverside	$107,973	$51.91	$68,329	$162,243	1,420
153	San Luis Obispo	$105,256	$50.61	$76,428	$155,162	140
154	Yuba City	$104,227	$50.11	$75,698	$171,773	40
155	Fresno	$101,623	$48.86	$65,292	$167,893	260
156	Visalia	$95,479	$45.90	$64,129	$136,554	90
157	Merced	$81,924	$39.39	$61,742	$153,474	40

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore mechanical engineer hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new mechanical engineers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced mechanical engineers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Mechanical Engineer Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in California in 2026?

The average median mechanical engineer salary in California is $138,992/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $81,924 in Merced to $176,997 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 29.72% above the national median of $107,150. The state employs approximately 32,239 mechanical engineers.

What is the highest paying city for mechanical engineers in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest mechanical engineer salary in California at $176,997/year ($85.09/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($176,997), Santa Clara ($175,835), San Jose ($172,936). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for mechanical engineering services, and competition among employers for licensed mechanical engineers.

How does California mechanical engineer pay compare to the national average?

California's average mechanical engineer salary of $138,992 is 29.72% above the national median of $107,150 in 2026. The state employs approximately 32,239 mechanical engineers across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in California?

Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $89,424/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $61,402 in lower-paying areas to $123,535 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many mechanical engineers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 32,239 mechanical engineers across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of mechanical engineers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the mechanical engineering field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for mechanical engineers?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for mechanical engineers in California, with an adjusted salary of $156,612 (nominal: $172,936, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Amina Patel, PE

Career Analyst

Amina has 10 years of experience in mechanical engineering. She specializes in thermal analysis and works in the automotive industry.

Clinically reviewed by Jamal Robinson, PhDData verified by Lina Zhang, MS

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.92% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 mechanical engineer compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more mechanical engineerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.92%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for mechanical engineers (SOC 17-2141).

Compiled and verified by Amina Patel, PE, a licensed mechanical engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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