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Mechanical engineer salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$130,900median pay per year in California, or $62.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $82,070lowest 10% earn less
  2. $102,36025th percentile
  3. $130,900median
  4. $166,58075th percentile
  5. $203,620top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $104,110[3]

The median pay for a mechanical engineer in California was $130,900 a year in May 2025[1]. That was the 3rd highest median among states[5].

Jobs in CA
30,530[4]
Rank by median pay
3 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+25.7%[6]

How much do mechanical engineers make in California?

Mechanical engineers in California had a median wage of $130,900 a year, or $62.94 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more than that and half earned less. The average was a bit higher at $136,660 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for this job was $104,110[3]. California sits $26,790 (25.7%) above that[6]. For all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240, so mechanical engineers earned $72,660 more[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,070, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $203,620[2]. The middle half of the group fell between $102,360 and $166,580[2]. Pay also differs by place. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 23 metro areas with a published figure, at $168,030[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont was at $161,370, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, with 8,780 jobs, came in at $123,900[11].

These numbers come from BLS OEWS data. They count wage and salary jobs only. Self-employed people and business owners are left out, and so are bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12]. The figures are also boundaries between groups of workers, and they are not a starting salary[13].

California vs US pay

Pay for mechanical engineers in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$130,900[1]$104,110[3]
Median per hour$62.94[1]$50.05[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$82,070[2]$73,990[14]
Top 10% earn more than$203,620[2]$164,340[14]
Jobs30,530[4]296,810[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for mechanical engineers, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$123,9008,780
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$168,0305,540
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$161,3705,150
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$121,7503,370
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$120,9701,480
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$104,9101,420
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$117,380950
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$119,790560

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for mechanical engineers in the states that border California, highest first[15].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[15]$103,4702,920
Nevada$102,6801,410
Arizona$100,2705,050

Median pay for mechanical engineers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for mechanical engineers are projected to grow 11.2% from 2025 to 2035[16]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[17].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a mechanical engineer make in California?
The median wage was $130,900 a year in May 2025, and the average was $136,660[1][7]. The middle half earned between $102,360 and $166,580[2].
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour in California?
The median was $62.94 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39.46 an hour, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $97.89[2][18].
Which city in California pays mechanical engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 23 metro areas with a published figure, at $168,030 a year[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont was at $161,370[11].
Is California a good state for mechanical engineers?
On pay, California had the 3rd highest median for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median of $130,900 was $26,790 above the US median[1][6]. Neighboring Oregon was at $103,470[15].
What do you need to become a mechanical engineer in California?
Across the US, the typical path into this job needs a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience or on-the-job training[17]. This is a national figure and not specific to California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Mechanical Engineers in California was $130,900 per year and $62.94 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Mechanical Engineers in California: 10th percentile $82,070, 25th percentile $102,360, 75th percentile $166,580, 90th percentile $203,620. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Mechanical Engineers in the US as a whole was $104,110 per year and $50.05 per hour, with about 296,810 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 30,530 people worked as Mechanical Engineers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 3rd highest median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in California ($130,900) was $26,790 (25.7%) higher than the US median ($104,110). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Mechanical Engineers in California was $136,660 per year and $65.70 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in California was $72,660 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 23 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Mechanical Engineers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $168,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Mechanical Engineers in the US: 10th percentile $73,990, 25th percentile $84,130, 75th percentile $132,590, 90th percentile $164,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $103,470; Nevada $102,680; Arizona $100,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Mechanical Engineers is projected to grow 11.2% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 17,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Mechanical Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  18. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Mechanical Engineers in California: 10th percentile $39.46, 25th percentile $49.21, 75th percentile $80.09, 90th percentile $97.89. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.