Quick answer:Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median $130,900 per year, above the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 30,530 of them. Licensing runs through your state engineering licensing board.
Mechanical Engineering Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$130,900
$104,110
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$82,070
$73,990
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$102,360
$84,130
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$166,580
$132,590
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$203,620
$164,340
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
30,530
296,810
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.88
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
9.1%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $130,900 sits above the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.88 puts California slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Mechanical engineering demand follows the region’s mix of manufacturing plants, building systems design and energy work, so the local picture can differ sharply from the national one.
Mechanical Engineers Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), mechanical engineers wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
8,780
$123,900
$123,940
$77,040
$173,340
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
5,540
$168,030
$165,920
$105,400
$217,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
5,150
$161,370
$158,690
$102,710
$212,380
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
3,370
$121,750
$124,420
$81,460
$172,760
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
1,480
$120,970
$123,710
$82,990
$170,600
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
1,420
$104,910
$108,900
$66,390
$157,640
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
950
$117,380
$121,350
$81,190
$162,200
Bakersfield-Delano
560
$119,790
$121,730
$78,490
$171,540
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
390
$121,130
$130,120
$84,480
$172,080
Fresno
260
$98,740
$103,180
$63,440
$163,130
Stockton-Lodi
220
$117,420
$115,420
$61,160
$169,900
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
190
$132,920
$139,810
$94,180
$211,260
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
150
$120,650
$120,110
$76,470
$170,890
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
140
$102,270
$107,560
$74,260
$150,760
Vallejo
130
$106,800
$111,730
$77,860
$160,680
Modesto
120
$104,990
$109,400
$67,720
$162,820
Visalia
90
$92,770
$95,280
$62,310
$132,680
Salinas
70
$132,560
$128,240
$69,240
$175,200
Redding
60
$105,980
$109,170
$59,660
$161,160
Chico
40
$109,210
$122,870
$75,680
$202,980
Merced
40
$79,600
$92,180
$59,990
$149,120
Yuba City
40
$101,270
$111,770
$73,550
$166,900
Napa
30
$112,670
$114,530
$77,900
$163,700
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Mechanical engineering follows the same Professional Engineer path the state boards administer: an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam in mechanical engineering. What differs from civil is how often the license is actually needed. Many mechanical engineers work in manufacturing and product design under what is commonly called the industrial exemption and never license, while those who seal building systems drawings or hold responsible charge do. Whether a state accepts an ABET ETAC (engineering technology) degree toward licensure varies, and so do comity rules between states.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state engineering licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do mechanical engineers make in California?
The median annual wage for mechanical engineers in California is $130,900, above the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $102,360 at the 25th percentile to $166,580 at the 75th.
How many mechanical engineers work in California?
California holds about 30,530 mechanical engineer jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 296,810, and BLS projects about 18,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a mechanical engineer in California?
Mechanical engineering follows the same Professional Engineer path the state boards administer: an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam in mechanical engineering. What differs from civil is how often the license is actually needed. Many mechanical engineers work in manufacturing and product design under what is commonly called the industrial exemption and never license, while those who seal building systems drawings or hold responsible charge do. Whether a state accepts an ABET ETAC (engineering technology) degree toward licensure varies, and so do comity rules between states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state engineering licensing board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a ABET-accredited BSME online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state engineering licensing board.
What is the highest-paying area of California for mechanical engineers?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $168,030 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for mechanical engineers?
On pay, the state median of $130,900 sits above the national $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.88 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
