San Diego mechanical engineer salary: rankings and context
Monthly take-home on that median is roughly US$8,600; local prices sit at COL 100, so its buying power is about US$121,800.
How San Diego compares with United States and CA
Directly above San Diego is Los Angeles (US$123,900); directly below is Boston (US$119,300). The full range runs from US$99,500 in Jacksonville to US$168,030 in San Jose.
Across CA, the 4 observed metros average US$143,800; San Diego is 15% below that and 4th in the state. The others: Los Angeles (US$123,900), San Jose (US$168,030) and San Francisco (US$161,370).
Is US$121,750 a good salary in San Diego?
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$121,800).
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 8th of 21 either way.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$8,600 monthly (15% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 19% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$5,150 in the black.
Other CA options for mechanical engineers
In Los Angeles — also in CA — the median is US$123,900 (+2% vs San Diego), and the modeled budget leaves US$130 more each month.
San Jose (also in CA) pays US$168,030, 38% more than San Diego; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,930 higher.
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$109,990, 10% less than San Diego; modeled monthly leftover is US$770 lower.
Mechanical Engineer vs other occupations in San Diego
Of the 9 roles we track in San Diego, Mechanical Engineer is 5th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$178,220).
Closest neighbours in the San Diego list: Data Scientist at US$130,990 (+8%) and Project Manager at US$117,460 (-4%).
Entry-level vs senior mechanical engineer pay in San Diego
San Diego is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$81,460) ranks 5th of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$172,760) ranks 7th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$217,530 at the 90th percentile, +26% against San Diego.
How wide mechanical engineer pay runs in San Diego
Expect wide variation between offers: the 10th percentile is US$81,460 and the 90th US$172,760, a 2.1× ratio.