Skip to content
SalaryEngineer

San Francisco engineer salary

Estimate

Updated January 2025

What engineers earn in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley metro, with a full breakdown by role.

Typical pay

$165,483

San Francisco

Top earners

$254,381

Higher end

vs national

+42% vs national

U.S. $116,537

State

CA

California

Engineers in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley metro earn an estimated $165,483, +42% vs national, with top earners near $254,381. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.

Engineering pay by role in San Francisco

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

22results

What affects engineering pay in San Francisco

  • ▹Local market. San Francisco pay runs +42% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the California statewide estimate.
  • ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
  • ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
  • ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than San Francisco, raising or lowering local pay.

Other California metros

San Jose engineer salaryLos Angeles engineer salarySan Diego engineer salarySacramento engineer salaryRiverside engineer salary

Engineer salaries in San Francisco — FAQ

How much do engineers make in San Francisco?
Engineers in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley metro earn an estimated median of $165,483 per year — 42% above the national average — with top earners near $254,381. 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 role in San Francisco?
Engineering Managers have the highest estimated pay in San Francisco, around $234,825 (median). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in San Francisco compare to the national average?
The estimated San Francisco engineering median of $165,483 is 42% above the national average of $116,537, and usually runs above the California statewide estimate.
Source details

Blended engineering estimate for San Francisco: BLS OEWS national engineering median adjusted by a 1.42× 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 →All of California →

Related searches

California engineer salaryEngineer salary by cityEngineer salary by roleSalary calculator