California Median
$130,900
per year
Hourly Rate
$62.93
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+26% vs US median
US median $104,110
State Rank
#3 of 51
30,530 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in California?
A Mechanical Engineer working in California earns a median salary of $130,900 per year, or about $62.93 per hour. That is 26% above the national median of $104,110 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $82,070 while the top 10% make $203,620 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $102,360 and $166,580 a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,070 | $39.46 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $102,360 | $49.21 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $130,900 | $62.93 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $166,580 | $80.09 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,620 | $97.89 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Mechanical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mechanical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $157,710District of Columbia $133,300Delaware $125,130Colorado $124,430Alaska $124,340Maryland $122,870Louisiana $119,540Massachusetts $119,300Wyoming $117,750Rhode Island $116,230Texas $112,410New Jersey $112,300Washington $110,430Vermont $107,330Connecticut $105,090Michigan $104,890South Carolina $104,580Virginia $104,180New Hampshire $103,660Oregon $103,470Illinois $102,680Nevada $102,680Utah $102,500New York $102,440Maine $102,430Oklahoma $101,850Kentucky $101,050North Carolina $100,720Georgia $100,620Arizona $100,270Alabama $100,230Florida $99,980Indiana $99,590Tennessee $99,550Missouri $99,330Minnesota $99,140Ohio $99,100Hawaii $98,740Mississippi $98,000Pennsylvania $97,920Iowa $97,700West Virginia $97,390Wisconsin $95,870Montana $94,190Idaho $93,190South Dakota $88,380Nebraska $88,060North Dakota $86,330Kansas $86,260Arkansas $80,180
Working as a Mechanical Engineer in California
Nationally, about 297,000 people work as Mechanical Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($130,900) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in California?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in California is $130,900 per year, or about $62.93 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $82,070 at the entry level to $203,620 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Mechanical Engineers about 26% more than the national median of $104,110. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Mechanical Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $130,900 a year. About 30,530 Mechanical Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Mechanical Engineer salary report
Related salaries
$66,150
median pay · 104,000 employed
$112,230
median pay · 8,000 employed
$107,110
median pay · 38,000 employed
$76,870
median pay · 18,000 employed
$73,900
median pay · 16,000 employed
$112,860
median pay · 23,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.