Mechanical Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $121,750 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,805 take-home, or $7,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,955
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,549
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,765
- California income tax$7,093
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,583
- Take-home pay$85,805
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,460 | $39.16 | $61,732 | $5,144 |
| 25th percentile | $96,860 | $46.57 | $70,933 | $5,911 |
| Median (50th) | $121,750 | $58.53 | $85,805 | $7,150 |
| 75th percentile | $151,920 | $73.04 | $103,229 | $8,602 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,760 | $83.06 | $115,264 | $9,605 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $121,750 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $85,805 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,689 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 about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $121,750 | $85,805 | $76,689 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in San Diego, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $121,750 a year, or about $58.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,860 and $151,920.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $121,750 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $85,805 a year ($7,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,676 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,689 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #17 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $174,440
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Electrical Engineer — $127,270
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Civil Engineer — $108,900