Mechanical Engineers pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $150,760 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in San Luis Obispo earn between $80,020 and $128,050.
- $74K10th
- $80K25th
- $102KMedian
- $128K75th
- $151K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $107,560 | $8,963 | $51.71 |
| Median | $102,270 | $8,522 | $49.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,020 | $6,668 | $38.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,050 | $10,671 | $61.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in San Luis Obispo earn 21% less than the California average ($136,660) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $107,560 | $102,270 | $74,260 | $150,760 | 140 |
| 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 Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $107,560, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $78,587 a year, or $6,549 a month and $3,023 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 Luis Obispo a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $107,560 buys what about $99,046 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 20th 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
- San Luis Obispo$107,560
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 Luis Obispo: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$51.71 an hour on average, and $49.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $78,587 a year ($6,549 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $107,560. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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