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
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 #93 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | $100,221 | $110,400 |
| 2 | Beaumont, TX | $122,280 | $94,844 | $105,329 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | $93,013 | $101,953 |
| 4 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | $94,811 | $101,944 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 6 | Augusta, GA | $128,740 | $93,201 | $101,412 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $124,780 | $96,553 | $96,477 |
| 93 | 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 115 metros →
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $168,030
- San Francisco, CA — $161,370
- Bakersfield, CA — $119,790
- Sacramento, CA — $120,970
- San Diego, CA — $121,750
- Oxnard, CA — $117,380
- Riverside, CA — $104,910
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 #93 of 115 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
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $158,530
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,530
- Electrical Engineer — $139,780
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $131,540
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,240
- Environmental Engineer — $127,900
- Materials Engineer — $125,200
- Engineers, All Other — $125,060
- Industrial Engineer — $113,040
- Civil Engineer — $108,640
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,170