Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician Salary in San Jose, CA
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $96,680 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,826 take-home, or $5,902 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineering technologist and technician salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,440
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,994
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,402
- California income tax$4,762
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,257
- Take-home pay$70,826
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,600 | $35.87 | $57,585 | $4,799 |
| 25th percentile | $85,040 | $40.88 | $63,871 | $5,323 |
| Median (50th) | $96,680 | $46.48 | $70,826 | $5,902 |
| 75th percentile | $122,340 | $58.82 | $86,147 | $7,179 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,300 | $69.38 | $98,829 | $8,236 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,680 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineering technologist and technician's $70,826 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,141 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Jose, CA has 2.0× the national concentration of mechanical engineering technologist and technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $100,150 | $75,516 | $81,601 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $91,450 | $73,165 | $74,182 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $96,680 | $70,826 | $64,141 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $100,620 | $73,180 | $63,297 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $80,860 | $65,715 | $59,132 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $69,490 | $55,014 | $54,850 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,080 | $60,310 | $53,106 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $73,400 | $57,100 | $50,727 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $100,620
- Los Angeles, CA — $79,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineering technologist and technician make in San Jose, CA?
The median mechanical engineering technologist and technician salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $96,680 a year, or about $46.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,040 and $122,340.
What is a mechanical engineering technologist and technician’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $96,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $70,826 a year ($5,902 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,018 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineering technologist and technician?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $74,510. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,141 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineering technologist and technician afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median mechanical engineering technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $209,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Aerospace Engineer — $181,630
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $168,030
- Materials Engineer — $156,730
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Civil Engineer — $130,280
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter — $115,530
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280