Mechanical Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $161,370 a year — 55% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,687 take-home, or $9,057 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,463
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,005
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,340
- California income tax$10,778
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,098
- Take-home pay$108,687
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 San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,710 | $49.38 | $74,429 | $6,202 |
| 25th percentile | $128,330 | $61.70 | $89,606 | $7,467 |
| Median (50th) | $161,370 | $77.58 | $108,687 | $9,057 |
| 75th percentile | $183,990 | $88.46 | $121,750 | $10,146 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $212,380 | $102.11 | $139,762 | $11,647 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,370 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $108,687 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,009 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 Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Diego, CA — $121,750
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $161,370 a year, or about $77.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,330 and $183,990.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $161,370 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,687 a year ($9,057 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,876 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 55% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,009 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $203,890
- Electrical Engineer — $166,030
- Engineers, All Other — $159,800
- Industrial Engineer — $132,230
- Civil Engineer — $130,160
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $126,550