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Mechanical Engineers salary in Los Angeles, CA

Mechanical Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area earn a median of $123,900 a year, an average of $123,940. About 8,780 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Mechanical Engineers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$123,900
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$123,940
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$77,040
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$173,340
Top of the range
People employed
8,780
In Los Angeles metro area
Rent share of median wage
18.2%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Los Angeles

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,879
per month, in Los Angeles, CA
Income needed for median rent
$75,200
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median mechanical engineers wage
$123,900
64.8% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
18.2%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$80,366
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Los Angeles area. Read the Los Angeles, CA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Mechanical Engineers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Chicago, IL
-17.6%
Median $102,070
Mean $109,570
Employed 6,900
Houston, TX
+1.2%
Median $125,350
Mean $133,040
Employed 8,310
Phoenix, AZ
-18.5%
Median $100,980
Mean $107,570
Employed 3,660
Philadelphia, PA
-15.7%
Median $104,410
Mean $112,030
Employed 4,850
San Antonio, TX
-15.6%
Median $104,620
Mean $117,050
Employed 1,480
San Diego, CA
-1.7%
Median $121,750
Mean $124,420
Employed 3,370
Dallas, TX
-14.9%
Median $105,420
Mean $114,530
Employed 5,600
San Jose, CA
+35.6%
Median $168,030
Mean $165,920
Employed 5,540

See mechanical engineers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $123,900 / year
$123,900
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax California (CA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.