Mechanical Engineers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $102,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $212,380 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in San Francisco earn between $128,330 and $183,990.
- $103K10th
- $128K25th
- $161KMedian
- $184K75th
- $212K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $158,690 | $13,224 | $76.29 |
| Median | $161,370 | $13,448 | $77.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,330 | $10,694 | $61.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $183,990 | $15,332 | $88.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $158,690, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $109,064 a year, or $9,089 a month and $4,195 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 San Francisco a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $158,690 buys what about $137,260 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
- Bakersfield$121,730
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 San Francisco: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in San Francisco?
$76.30 an hour on average, and $77.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $102,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $109,064 a year ($9,089 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $158,690. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($114,695).
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.