Mechanical engineer pay in San Jose, CA
Mechanical engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a typical $168,030 a year. The middle half earn $134,460 to $201,630, and the top 10% earn more than $217,530. About 5,540 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Mechanical Engineers, SOC 17-2141).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $105,400 |
| 25th percentile | $134,460 |
| Median (typical) | $168,030 |
| 75th percentile | $201,630 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $217,530 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 1 of 50 large metros for mechanical engineers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $168,030, a single filer keeps about $114,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Jose are 10% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $103,900 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Jose No. 1 of 50 large metros for mechanical engineers after cost of living.
Where mechanical engineers’ pay goes furthest
- Houston, TX$125,350 typical · worth $98.3k
- San Francisco, CA$161,370 typical · worth $95.8k
- Memphis, TN$104,110 typical · worth $89k
- Denver, CO$128,180 typical · worth $88.7k
All 50 metros for mechanical engineers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among mechanical engineers in San Jose. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 21 employers here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in San Jose, CA?
The typical (median) mechanical engineer in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earns $168,030 a year. The middle half earn between $134,460 and $201,630, and the top 10% earn more than $217,530. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a mechanical engineer in San Jose?
Anything above $168,030 pays more than half of mechanical engineers in San Jose. $201,630 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $217,530 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a mechanical engineer in San Jose take home after taxes?
At the typical $168,030, a single filer keeps about $114,700 a year ($9,560 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 10% above the US average, that buys what $103,900 would in a typical US city.
Where do mechanical engineers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical mechanical engineer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA, Memphis, TN. San Jose, CA ranks No. 1.
More: Mechanical engineer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Jose, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.