Advertisement
Mechanical Engineers average salary by city in California
- San Jose$165,920
- San Francisco$158,690
- Santa Cruz$139,810
- Santa Maria$130,120
- Salinas$128,240
- San Diego$124,420
- Los Angeles$123,940
- Sacramento$123,710
- Chico$122,870
- Bakersfield$121,730
- Oxnard$121,350
- Santa Rosa$120,110
- Stockton$115,420
- Napa$114,530
- Yuba City$111,770
- Vallejo$111,730
- Modesto$109,400
- Redding$109,170
- Riverside$108,900
- San Luis Obispo$107,560
- Fresno$103,180
- Visalia$95,280
- Merced$92,180
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $165,920 | $168,030 | $134,460 | $113,334 | 110 |
| San Francisco | $158,690 | $161,370 | $128,330 | $109,064 | 116 |
| Santa Cruz | $139,810 | $132,920 | $108,700 | $97,916 | 110 |
| Santa Maria | $130,120 | $121,130 | $101,670 | $92,194 | 109 |
| Salinas | $128,240 | $132,560 | $98,130 | $91,084 | 109 |
| San Diego | $124,420 | $121,750 | $96,860 | $88,828 | 112 |
| Los Angeles | $123,940 | $123,900 | $96,010 | $88,545 | 114 |
| Sacramento | $123,710 | $120,970 | $100,410 | $88,409 | 107 |
| Chico | $122,870 | $109,210 | $83,730 | $87,913 | 101 |
| Bakersfield | $121,730 | $119,790 | $92,500 | $87,238 | 101 |
| Oxnard | $121,350 | $117,380 | $99,310 | $87,006 | 111 |
| Santa Rosa | $120,110 | $120,650 | $92,370 | $86,249 | 108 |
| Stockton | $115,420 | $117,420 | $81,610 | $83,386 | 105 |
| Napa | $114,530 | $112,670 | $83,170 | $82,843 | 113 |
| Yuba City | $111,770 | $101,270 | $84,680 | $81,158 | 104 |
| Vallejo | $111,730 | $106,800 | $86,090 | $81,133 | 108 |
| Modesto | $109,400 | $104,990 | $81,150 | $79,711 | 104 |
| Redding | $109,170 | $105,980 | $84,990 | $79,570 | 101 |
| Riverside | $108,900 | $104,910 | $82,970 | $79,405 | 106 |
| San Luis Obispo | $107,560 | $102,270 | $80,020 | $78,587 | 109 |
| Fresno | $103,180 | $98,740 | $76,760 | $75,913 | 102 |
| Visalia | $95,280 | $92,770 | $70,540 | $71,090 | 100 |
| Merced | $92,180 | $79,600 | $64,060 | $69,198 | 98 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.