San Francisco engineer salary
EstimateUpdated March 2025
What engineers earn in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro, with a full breakdown by role.
Typical pay
$165,321
San Francisco
Top earners
$231,077
Higher end
vs national
+37% vs national
U.S. $120,395
State
CA
California
Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro earn an estimated $165,321, +37% vs national, with top earners near $231,077. 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.
| Engineering role | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager Architecture & Engineering | $208,580 | $239,200 | Verified | ||
| Software Engineer Software & Technology | $174,910 | $239,200 | Verified | ||
| Data Engineer Emerging | $174,910 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| AI Engineer Emerging | $174,910 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Machine Learning Engineer Emerging | $174,910 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Cloud Engineer Emerging | $174,910 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| DevOps Engineer Emerging | $174,910 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Electrical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $163,840 | $215,690 | Verified | ||
| Aerospace Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $160,000 | $238,710 | Verified | ||
| Systems Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $156,140 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Robotics Engineer Emerging | $156,140 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Entry-Level Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $156,140 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Senior Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $156,140 | $239,200 | Estimate | ||
| Mechanical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $145,640 | $207,610 | Verified | ||
| Environmental Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $142,000 | $203,960 | Verified | ||
| Biomedical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $136,720 | $179,710 | Verified | ||
| Materials Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $134,560 | $184,150 | Verified | ||
| Industrial Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $133,790 | $202,860 | Verified | ||
| Civil Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $126,560 | $199,010 | Verified | ||
| Petroleum Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $97,610 | $239,200 | Verified |
- Verified
Engineering Manager
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$208,580
90th
$239,200
View details - Verified
Software Engineer
Software & Technology
Median
$174,910
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Data Engineer
Emerging
Median
$174,910
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
AI Engineer
Emerging
Median
$174,910
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Machine Learning Engineer
Emerging
Median
$174,910
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Cloud Engineer
Emerging
Median
$174,910
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
DevOps Engineer
Emerging
Median
$174,910
90th
$239,200
View details - Verified
Electrical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$163,840
90th
$215,690
View details - Verified
Aerospace Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$160,000
90th
$238,710
View details - Estimate
Systems Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$156,140
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Robotics Engineer
Emerging
Median
$156,140
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Entry-Level Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$156,140
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Senior Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$156,140
90th
$239,200
View details - Verified
Mechanical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$145,640
90th
$207,610
View details - Verified
Environmental Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$142,000
90th
$203,960
View details - Verified
Biomedical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$136,720
90th
$179,710
View details - Verified
Materials Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$134,560
90th
$184,150
View details - Verified
Industrial Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$133,790
90th
$202,860
View details - Verified
Civil Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$126,560
90th
$199,010
View details - Verified
Petroleum Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$97,610
90th
$239,200
View details
What affects engineering pay in San Francisco
- ▹Local market. San Francisco pay runs +37% 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
Engineer salaries in San Francisco — FAQ
How much do engineers make in San Francisco?
What is the highest-paying engineering role in San Francisco?
How does engineering pay in San Francisco compare to the national average?
Source details
BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 11 engineering occupations in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, weighted by local employment (106,150 jobs).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →