Mechanical Engineers pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,530 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in San Jose earn between $134,460 and $201,630.
- $105K10th
- $134K25th
- $168KMedian
- $202K75th
- $218K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $165,920 | $13,827 | $79.77 |
| Median | $168,030 | $14,002 | $80.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $134,460 | $11,205 | $64.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $201,630 | $16,802 | $96.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in San Jose earn 21% more than the California average ($136,660) and 46% more than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is +61% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $165,920 | $168,030 | $105,400 | $217,530 | 5,540 |
| 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 San Jose
On the average salary of $165,920, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $113,334 a year, or $9,444 a month and $4,359 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 San Jose a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $165,920 buys what about $150,259 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 23 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 San Jose: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in San Jose?
$79.77 an hour on average, and $80.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $134,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in San Jose?
About $113,334 a year ($9,444 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $165,920. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 46% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 2.56, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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