Mechanical Engineer pay in Los Angeles, by the numbers
After a simplified 15% national tax estimate that is about US$8,800 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Los Angeles vs the national and CA picture
On a United States league table of 21 metros, Los Angeles comes 7th. One place higher is Houston at US$125,350, one lower is San Diego at US$121,750, and San Jose tops the list.
CA has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$143,800, and Los Angeles comes 3rd, -14% against it; elsewhere in the state: San Diego (US$121,750), San Jose (US$168,030) and San Francisco (US$161,370).
Is US$123,900 a good salary in Los Angeles?
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$123,900).
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Los Angeles: 7th of 21.
After a simplified 15% effective national income tax, the median nets about US$8,800 a month. A modeled 1-bedroom (US$1,650) takes 19% of that, leaving around US$5,280 after modeled living costs.
Other CA options for mechanical engineers
San Diego (also in CA) pays US$121,750, 2% less than Los Angeles; modeled monthly leftover is US$130 lower.
San Jose (also in CA) pays US$168,030, 36% more than Los Angeles; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,800 higher.
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$109,990, 11% less than Los Angeles; modeled monthly leftover is US$900 lower.
Other Los Angeles jobs compared with mechanical engineer
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in Los Angeles at US$194,410; mechanical engineer comes 5th of 9.
Closest neighbours in the Los Angeles list: Data Scientist at US$129,740 (+5%) and Project Manager at US$108,310 (-13%).
Where Los Angeles stands for junior and senior mechanical engineers
Senior pay is the relative strength in Los Angeles: US$173,340 at the 90th percentile ranks 5th of 21, while US$77,040 at the 10th ranks 10th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$217,530 at the 90th percentile, +25% against Los Angeles.
The mechanical engineer pay range in Los Angeles
Pay is spread out: US$77,040 at the 10th percentile to US$173,340 at the 90th (2.3×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.