Mechanical Engineer Salary in San Jose, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $168,030 a year — 61% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $112,533 take-home, or $9,378 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,061
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,418
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,436
- California income tax$11,397
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,184
- Take-home pay$112,533
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,400 | $50.67 | $76,036 | $6,336 |
| 25th percentile | $134,460 | $64.64 | $93,146 | $7,762 |
| Median (50th) | $168,030 | $80.78 | $112,533 | $9,378 |
| 75th percentile | $201,630 | $96.94 | $132,984 | $11,082 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,530 | $104.58 | $143,009 | $11,917 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $168,030 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $112,533 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,911 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Jose, CA has 2.6× the national concentration of mechanical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #5 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 |
*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 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
- Riverside, CA — $104,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in San Jose, CA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $168,030 a year, or about $80.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $134,460 and $201,630.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $168,030 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $112,533 a year ($9,378 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,582 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 61% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,911 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #5 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $209,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Aerospace Engineer — $181,630
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Materials Engineer — $156,730
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Civil Engineer — $130,280
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter — $115,530
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $96,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280