Content has loaded

Mechanical engineer salary in California (Updated 2026)

How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in California?

Average base salary

$126,280
22%
above national average
Average $126,280
Low $79,521
High $200,534

The average salary for a mechanical engineer is $126,280 per year in California. 2.2k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated June 15, 2026).

Mechanical Engineer job openings in California

slide 1 of 6
slide1 of 6
Mechanical Engineering Intern
Curtiss-Wright3.2out of 5 stars.
Brea, CA
$25 an hour
Part-time
1 day ago

Highest paying companies for Mechanical Engineer in California

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
HYPERION BIOTECHNOLOGY
 
$416,000per year
View company
Aditya Birla Group
 
$300,000per year
View company
JBM Auto
 
$300,000per year
View company
FAR Government
 
$291,200per year
View company
Arm
 
$283,600per year
View company
Superior Skilled Trades
 
$250,000per year
View company

Highest paying cities for Mechanical Engineers near California

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $170,494 per year
  2. San Jose, CA
    $142,939 per year
  3. Santa Clara, CA
    $136,168 per year
  4. Livermore, CA
    $132,985 per year
  5. Los Angeles, CA
    $132,589 per year

Where can a Mechanical Engineer earn more?

Compare salaries for Mechanical Engineers in different locations
vs

How much do similar professions as Mechanical Engineer get paid in California?

Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

Job openings
Average $84,517 per year

Junior Mechanical Engineer

Job openings
Average $87,671 per year

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Job openings
Average $148,268 per year