Mechanical Engineers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,120 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Merced earn between $64,060 and $105,880.
- $60K10th
- $64K25th
- $80KMedian
- $106K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,180 | $7,682 | $44.32 |
| Median | $79,600 | $6,633 | $38.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,060 | $5,338 | $30.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,880 | $8,823 | $50.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Merced earn 33% less than the California average ($136,660) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $92,180 | $79,600 | $59,990 | $149,120 | 40 |
| California | $136,660 | $130,900 | $82,070 | $203,620 | 30,530 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $92,180, a single filer in Merced takes home about $69,198 a year, or $5,766 a month and $2,661 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $92,180 buys what about $93,798 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 23rd of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($165,920).
- 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
- Merced$92,180
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Mechanical Engineers salary in Merced: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Merced?
$44.32 an hour on average, and $38.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Merced?
About $69,198 a year ($5,766 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,180. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
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; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.29, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.29).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.