Mechanical Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $121,750 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,805 take-home, or $7,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,955
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,549
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,765
- California income tax$7,093
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,583
- Take-home pay$85,805
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,460 | $39.16 | $61,732 | $5,144 |
| 25th percentile | $96,860 | $46.57 | $70,933 | $5,911 |
| Median (50th) | $121,750 | $58.53 | $85,805 | $7,150 |
| 75th percentile | $151,920 | $73.04 | $103,229 | $8,602 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,760 | $83.06 | $115,264 | $9,605 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $121,750 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $85,805 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,689 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 Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #92 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 |
| 92 | San Diego, CA | $121,750 | $85,805 | $76,689 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
- Oxnard, CA — $117,380
- Riverside, CA — $104,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in San Diego, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $121,750 a year, or about $58.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,860 and $151,920.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $121,750 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $85,805 a year ($7,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,676 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,689 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #92 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $174,440
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Aerospace Engineer — $135,010
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Electrical Engineer — $127,270
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $120,040
- Environmental Engineer — $119,390
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Civil Engineer — $108,900
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $92,480
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $91,620
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,840