Mechanical engineer salary in California
In California, space employers offer mechanical engineers a median of $158k a year, the middle half $130k–$180k $8.1k above the national posted median. From 266 jobs at 45 employers that name a salary in their postings.
- 25th percentile$130,000/hr
- Median (50th)$157,500/hr
- 75th percentile$180,312.50/hr
- Distinct posted rates266
- Jobs stating an hourly rate266
- Employers45
The median is the middle of the 266 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $130,000–$180,312.50 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- 25th percentile$130,000/hr
- Median (50th)$157,500/hr
- 75th percentile$180,312.50/hr
- Distinct posted rates266
- Jobs stating an hourly rate266
- Employers45
The median is the middle of the 266 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $130,000–$180,312.50 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- Median posted pay, a year$157,500
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- The same per hour, full time$75.72/hr
Every figure here is a year's pay: a job that posts pay counts at 2,080 hours (40 a week for 52 weeks). Rounded to the nearest $100.
- Relativity Space40 jobs
- SpaceX27 jobs
- Northrop Grumman21 jobs
- Vast17 jobs
- K2 Space15 jobs
- Rocket Lab14 jobs
- Lockheed Martin12 jobs
- Anduril10 jobs
- Inversion Space9 jobs
- Impulse Space9 jobs
Jobs stating pay, the employers with the most first: 174 at the 10 shown and 92 at 35 other employers, 266 in all.
The jobs themselves: Mechanical engineer jobs in California · Mechanical engineer pay nationwide
What mechanical engineers are paid in California
Each bar counts the open jobs posting pay in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $158k a year. Middle half $130k to $180k. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in California
Middle half of 266 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $158k. 91% of the 293 open mechanical engineer jobs in California state pay.
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Mechanical engineer pay by town in California
Towns where at least three open jobs state pay, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | $161k | $82.4k–$277k | 75 (5) |
| Hawthorne | $130k | $90k–$230k | 36 (5) |
| Los Angeles | $165k | $90k–$295k | 32 (7) |
| Redondo Beach | $143k | $83.4k–$266k | 22 (2) |
| El Segundo | $148k | $42k–$236k | 20 (6) |
| Sunnyvale | $169k | $79.3k–$270k | 12 (1) |
| San Jose | $188k | $145k–$216k | 10 (2) |
| Costa Mesa | $179k | $115k–$254k | 10 (1) |
| Pasadena | $138k | $87k–$253k | 5 (2) |
| Tustin | $203k | $130k–$269k | 4 (1) |
| Carlsbad | $169k | $121k–$285k | 4 (1) |
| Alameda | $160k | $100k–$220k | 4 (1) |
| Folsom | $154k | $97k–$200k | 4 (1) |
| San Diego | $154k | $104k–$242k | 4 (2) |
| Burlingame | $155k | $132k–$218k | 3 (1) |
| Commerce | $143k | $91.8k–$241k | 3 (1) |
| Irvine | $125k | $80k–$155k | 3 (2) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Mechanical engineer pay by employer in California
What each employer posts for mechanical engineers here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
Median of each employer's jobs in California (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for mechanical engineers nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open mechanical engineer jobs in California
The open jobs posting the highest pay figures tonight, at most two from one employer.
$175,000–$295,000/yr
$192,979–$276,722/yr
$180,500–$285,000/yr
$185,000–$277,000/yr- $185,000–$277,000/yr
$176,598–$269,442/yr
$191,000–$254,000/yr
$177,000–$265,600/yr
$193,000–$236,000/yr
$162,360–$265,392/yr- $183,000–$243,000/yr
- $175,480–$249,096/yr
Mechanical engineer salary in California: common questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in California?
Open mechanical engineer jobs in California that state pay post a median of $158k, the middle half $130k–$180k (266 jobs from 45 employers).
Where in California do mechanical engineers earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: Long Beach ($161k), Hawthorne ($130k), Los Angeles ($165k) and Redondo Beach ($143k). The town table lists 17.
Which employers in California pay mechanical engineers the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: Virgin Galactic ($203k), Muon Space ($188k) and Anduril ($179k).
How does California compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in California ($158k) is $8.1k above the national posted median of $149k.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 266 of 293 open mechanical engineer jobs in California (91%) state pay. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Mechanical engineer pay in other states
Sources and method
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Mechanical engineer salary in California. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/salaries/mechanical-engineers/california