Mechanical Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $161,370 a year — 55% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,687 take-home, or $9,057 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,463
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,005
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,340
- California income tax$10,778
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,098
- Take-home pay$108,687
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,710 | $49.38 | $74,429 | $6,202 |
| 25th percentile | $128,330 | $61.70 | $89,606 | $7,467 |
| Median (50th) | $161,370 | $77.58 | $108,687 | $9,057 |
| 75th percentile | $183,990 | $88.46 | $121,750 | $10,146 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $212,380 | $102.11 | $139,762 | $11,647 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,370 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $108,687 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,009 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 Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $108,687 | $94,009 |
*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
- Bakersfield, CA — $119,790
- Sacramento, CA — $120,970
- 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 San Francisco, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $161,370 a year, or about $77.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,330 and $183,990.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $161,370 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,687 a year ($9,057 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,876 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 55% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,009 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #10 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $203,890
- Aerospace Engineer — $191,260
- Electrical Engineer — $166,030
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $162,440
- Engineers, All Other — $159,800
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $140,660
- Environmental Engineer — $138,840
- Industrial Engineer — $132,230
- Civil Engineer — $130,160
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $126,550
- Surveyor — $125,060
- Landscape Architect — $119,730