Mechanical Engineer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Mechanical Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $121,750 a year ($58.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,760 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 7% lower than the California statewide median of $130,900. There are 2.2 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $124,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,460 | $39.17 |
| 25th percentile | $96,860 | $46.57 |
| Median | $121,750 | $58.54 |
| 75th percentile | $151,920 | $73.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,760 | $83.06 |
| Average (mean) | $124,420 | $59.82 |
Half of mechanical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,145.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,072.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,682.69 |
| Weekly | $2,341.35 |
| Hourly | $58.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $121,750 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $168,030 | 5,540 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $161,370 | 5,150 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $132,920 | 190 |
| Salinas, CA | $132,560 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $123,900 | 8,780 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $121,130 | 390 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $120,970 | 1,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $120,650 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,790 | 560 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $117,420 | 220 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $117,380 | 950 |
| Napa, CA | $112,670 | 30 |
| Chico, CA | $109,210 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,800 | 130 |
| Redding, CA | $105,980 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $104,990 | 120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $104,910 | 1,420 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $102,270 | 140 |
| Yuba City, CA | $101,270 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,740 | 260 |
| Visalia, CA | $92,770 | 90 |
| Merced, CA | $79,600 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,900 | $52.35 |
| Industrial Engineer | $119,050 | $57.24 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $174,440 | $83.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,270 | $61.19 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,010 | $64.91 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,390 | $57.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,270 | $61.67 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $124,740 | $59.97 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,180 | $59.70 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $118,100 | $56.78 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,590 | $51.73 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $91,620 | $44.05 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $121,750 a year, or $58.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $172,760 a year. The top 25% earn $151,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,460 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $96,860 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 3,370 mechanical engineers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.