SOC 17-2141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mechanical Engineers — Sacramento
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Sacramento, CA is $120,970 per year, 16.2% above the national median of $104,110.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Sacramento, CA is $120,970 per year, 16.2% above the national median of $104,110. Pay ranges from under $82,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $170,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $100,410 to $141,560.
Employment stands at 1,480, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $168,030. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 109th of 648 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,990 | −20.3% |
| 25th | $100,410 | −3.6% |
| Median (50th) | $120,970 | +16.2% |
| 75th | $141,560 | +36.0% |
| 90th | $170,600 | +63.9% |
| Mean | $123,710 | +18.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $168,030 | 5,540 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $161,370 | 5,150 | |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $132,920 | 190 | |
| 4 | Salinas | $132,560 | 70 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $123,900 | 8,780 | |
| 6 | San Diego | $121,750 | 3,370 | |
| 7 | Santa Maria | $121,130 | 390 | |
| 8 | Santa Rosa | $120,650 | 150 | |
| 9 | Bakersfield | $119,790 | 560 | |
| 10 | Stockton | $117,420 | 220 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Sacramento run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $120,970 buys what $109,277 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$120,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$109,277US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $120,970 a year, 16.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $82,990 to $170,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,480 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $168,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Sacramento, CA?
The median annual wage is $120,970, or $58.16 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $104,110, so pay in Sacramento, CA is 16.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Sacramento, CA earns more than $170,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $82,990 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $168,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,480 jobs in this occupation in Sacramento, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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