California Median
$87,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$42.01
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+17% vs US median
US median $74,510
State Rank
#4 of 44
3,660 employed here
How much do Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians make in California?
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians working in California earn a median salary of $87,390 per year, or about $42.01 per hour. That is 17% above the national median of $74,510 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $57,950 while the top 10% make $124,740 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $69,490 and $104,220 a year.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,950 | $27.86 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $69,490 | $33.41 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $87,390 | $42.01 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $104,220 | $50.11 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,740 | $59.97 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 44 states and territories for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in other states
Louisiana $102,800New Mexico $97,560Missouri $92,150Connecticut $82,660Rhode Island $81,600Oregon $80,840Nebraska $80,050Washington $79,410Maryland $79,180Ohio $78,500New York $78,210Kentucky $77,990Delaware $77,820Indiana $77,220Colorado $77,090Illinois $77,020Maine $76,790Texas $76,610North Dakota $76,440Virginia $75,650Georgia $73,870Nevada $72,950Arizona $72,090Iowa $71,670Pennsylvania $70,820Mississippi $70,570South Carolina $69,580Idaho $68,310Michigan $68,170Wisconsin $67,850New Hampshire $66,740New Jersey $65,180Minnesota $63,990Massachusetts $62,390North Carolina $62,360Tennessee $62,270Utah $61,870Oklahoma $61,480Alabama $60,350Florida $59,720Kansas $55,390South Dakota $53,670West Virginia $47,660
Working as Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in California
Nationally, about 36,000 people work as Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the United States. An associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($87,390) 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 do Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians make in California?
The median Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in California is $87,390 per year, or about $42.01 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $57,950 at the entry level to $124,740 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians about 17% more than the national median of $74,510. California ranks 4th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $87,390 a year. About 3,660 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians 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 Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary report
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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.