Mechanical Engineers pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $202,980 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Chico earn between $83,730 and $158,450.
- $76K10th
- $84K25th
- $109KMedian
- $158K75th
- $203K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,870 | $10,239 | $59.07 |
| Median | $109,210 | $9,101 | $52.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,730 | $6,978 | $40.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $158,450 | $13,204 | $76.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Chico earn 10% less than the California average ($136,660) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $122,870 | $109,210 | $75,680 | $202,980 | 40 |
| California | $136,660 | $130,900 | $82,070 | $203,620 | 30,530 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Chico
On the average salary of $122,870, a single filer in Chico takes home about $87,913 a year, or $7,326 a month and $3,381 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $122,870 buys what about $121,417 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 9th of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($165,920).
- San Jose$165,920
- San Francisco$158,690
- Santa Cruz$139,810
- Santa Maria$130,120
- Salinas$128,240
- San Diego$124,420
- Los Angeles$123,940
- Sacramento$123,710
- Chico$122,870
- Bakersfield$121,730
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Chico: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Chico?
$59.07 an hour on average, and $52.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Chico?
About $87,913 a year ($7,326 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,870. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.27, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.27).
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