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Mechanical Engineers salary in San Francisco, CA

Mechanical Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area earn a median of $161,370 a year, an average of $158,690. About 5,150 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
$161,370
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$158,690
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$102,710
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$212,380
Top of the range
People employed
5,150
In San Francisco metro area
Rent share of median wage
18.0%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in San Francisco

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

Median gross rent
$2,419
per month, in San Francisco, CA
Income needed for median rent
$96,800
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median mechanical engineers wage
$161,370
66.7% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
18.0%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$141,446
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 San Francisco area. Read the San Francisco, 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

Indianapolis, IN
-38.8%
Median $98,680
Mean $105,190
Employed 2,140
Charlotte, NC
-36.8%
Median $101,950
Mean $110,110
Employed 2,470
Columbus, OH
-37.6%
Median $100,730
Mean $99,840
Employed 2,630
Seattle, WA
-21.6%
Median $126,590
Mean $128,610
Employed 4,500
Fort Worth, TX
-34.7%
Median $105,420
Mean $114,530
Employed 5,600
Denver, CO
-20.6%
Median $128,180
Mean $126,140
Employed 4,530
Jacksonville, FL
-38.3%
Median $99,500
Mean $105,550
Employed 1,210
Austin, TX
-33.9%
Median $106,690
Mean $118,640
Employed 1,790

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 $161,370 / year
$161,370
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.