Mechanical Engineer Salary in Riverside, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $104,910 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,743 take-home, or $6,312 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,250
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,504
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,521
- California income tax$5,527
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,364
- Take-home pay$75,743
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,390 | $31.92 | $52,562 | $4,380 |
| 25th percentile | $82,970 | $39.89 | $62,634 | $5,220 |
| Median (50th) | $104,910 | $50.44 | $75,743 | $6,312 |
| 75th percentile | $130,190 | $62.59 | $90,680 | $7,557 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,640 | $75.79 | $106,533 | $8,878 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,910 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $75,743 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,159 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.43), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #109 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 |
| 109 | Riverside, CA | $104,910 | $75,743 | $71,159 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
- Oxnard, CA — $117,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Riverside, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $104,910 a year, or about $50.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,970 and $130,190.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $104,910 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $75,743 a year ($6,312 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,891 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,159 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #109 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $130,940
- Civil Engineer — $115,120
- Electrical Engineer — $109,990
- Industrial Engineer — $101,700
- Surveyor — $100,510
- Engineers, All Other — $100,110
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,710
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $79,370
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $70,580