Mechanical Engineer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $123,900 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $87,048 take-home, or $7,254 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,470
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,682
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,797
- California income tax$7,293
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,611
- Take-home pay$87,048
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,040 | $37.04 | $59,075 | $4,923 |
| 25th percentile | $96,010 | $46.16 | $70,426 | $5,869 |
| Median (50th) | $123,900 | $59.57 | $87,048 | $7,254 |
| 75th percentile | $146,850 | $70.60 | $100,301 | $8,358 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,340 | $83.34 | $115,599 | $9,633 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $123,900 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $87,048 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,650 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mechanical Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #18 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $108,687 | $94,009 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $93,946 | $88,810 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $97,790 | $87,994 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $80,065 | $83,952 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,990 | $90,238 | $82,875 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $85,723 | $82,042 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $123,900 | $87,048 | $76,650 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: mechanical engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +11.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $168,030
- San Francisco, CA — $161,370
- San Diego, CA — $121,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $123,900 a year, or about $59.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,010 and $146,850.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $123,900 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $87,048 a year ($7,254 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,904 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,650 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #18 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,280
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,530
- Electrical Engineer — $139,780
- Engineers, All Other — $125,060
- Industrial Engineer — $113,040
- Civil Engineer — $108,640
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,170
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $81,940
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $76,630