How Much Do Mechanical Engineers Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Mechanical Engineers in California earns $130,900 per year and takes home $92,792 ($7,733/month) — a keep-rate of 70.9%, with 30,530 employed in the state.
Free. No signup. Single filer, standard deduction — full model.
| Gross pay | $10,908.33 |
| Federal income tax | $1,679.16 |
| Social Security | $676.32 |
| Medicare | $158.17 |
| California state income tax | $662.01 |
| You keep | $7,732.68 |
How much do Mechanical Engineers make in California?
The median Mechanical Engineers in California earns $130,900 per year (BLS May 2025), about $62.94 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$130,900 gross in California keeps $92,792 after federal income tax ($20,150), FICA ($10,014) and state income tax ($7,944) — $7,733 per month, a 70.9% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
The California median is $26,790 above the national median of $104,110.
Which state pays Mechanical Engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median gross for Mechanical Engineers at $157,710 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Mechanical Engineers salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage