Mechanical Engineer Salary in Sacramento, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $120,970 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,339 take-home, or $7,112 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,783
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,500
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,754
- California income tax$7,021
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,573
- Take-home pay$85,339
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,990 | $39.90 | $62,646 | $5,221 |
| 25th percentile | $100,410 | $48.27 | $73,055 | $6,088 |
| Median (50th) | $120,970 | $58.16 | $85,339 | $7,112 |
| 75th percentile | $141,560 | $68.06 | $97,246 | $8,104 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,600 | $82.02 | $114,017 | $9,501 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $120,970 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $85,339 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,003 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 Sacramento, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #65 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 |
| 65 | Sacramento, CA | $120,970 | $85,339 | $80,003 |
*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
- San Diego, CA — $121,750
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
- Oxnard, CA — $117,380
- Riverside, CA — $104,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Sacramento, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $120,970 a year, or about $58.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,410 and $141,560.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $120,970 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $85,339 a year ($7,112 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,593 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,003 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #65 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $142,460
- Electrical Engineer — $136,190
- Environmental Engineer — $133,240
- Civil Engineer — $130,150
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $125,980
- Engineers, All Other — $124,220
- Industrial Engineer — $110,190
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $84,690
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $79,800
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $76,950