Skip to content
SalaryEngineer

California engineer salary

Estimate

Updated January 2025

What engineers earn across California — explore the numbers city by city.

Typical pay

$144,506

California

Top earners

$222,136

Higher end

vs national

+24% vs national

U.S. $116,537

Cities

10

in this state

Engineers in California earn an estimated $144,506 per year, +24% vs national, with top earners near $222,136. Explore pay city by city below, or estimate your own total compensation. The number sharpens as engineers here contribute.

Engineering pay by role in California

Estimated pay for each discipline in California. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

22results

Engineering salaries by city in California

Open a city for its full role breakdown — or add a city we don't cover yet.

Top-paying

San Jose

$172,475

+48% vs national

View San Jose salaries

San Francisco

$165,483

+42% vs national

View San Francisco salaries

Los Angeles

$137,514

+18% vs national

View Los Angeles salaries

San Diego

$134,018

+15% vs national

View San Diego salaries

Sacramento

$125,860

+8% vs national

View Sacramento salaries

Riverside

$116,537

At national

View Riverside salaries

More cities in California

We don't publish a separate estimate for these yet. Use the California estimate above as your starting point — and add your pay to put your city on the map.

Estimate any city
FresnoIrvineLong BeachOakland

Don't see your city? Submit your salary or request a city — new cities appear as engineers contribute.

What affects engineering pay in California

  • ▹Local market. California pay runs +24% vs national for the typical engineer, driven by local demand and living costs.
  • ▹Discipline mix. Software, petroleum, and engineering-management roles pull averages up; civil and environmental roles sit lower. Use the role table above for specifics.
  • ▹Metro concentration. Pay clusters in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and other metros, which run above the statewide estimate.
  • ▹Remote & experience.Remote roles often anchor to a company's HQ market rather than California; seniority can swing pay ±35% around the median.

Engineer salaries in California — FAQ

How much do engineers make in California?
Engineers in California earn an estimated median of $144,506 per year — 24% above the national average — with top earners near $222,136. These are labeled estimates: geographic pay is modeled from BLS OEWS national baselines adjusted by a local cost-of-labor index, not a direct BLS metro/state wage.
What is the highest-paying engineering job in California?
Among tracked disciplines, engineering managers have the highest estimated pay in California, around $205,059 (median). Management, software, and petroleum roles typically sit at the top; civil and environmental roles lower.
Is California a good state for engineers?
Pay-wise, the typical California engineering salary is 24% above the national average. Combined with local demand, that makes it a competitive market. Compare roles and cities on this page before deciding.
Which cities in California pay engineers the most?
Estimated engineering pay is highest in San Jose ($172,475), San Francisco ($165,483), and Los Angeles ($137,514). Metro figures adjust the state baseline by local wage levels.
Source details

Blended engineering estimate for California: BLS OEWS national engineering median adjusted by a 1.24× cost-of-labor index.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

Estimate your salary →Submit your salary

Related searches

Engineer salary by stateEngineer salary by cityEngineer salary by roleSan Francisco engineer salarySan Jose engineer salaryLos Angeles engineer salary