Mechanical Engineer pay in San Francisco, by the numbers
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in San Francisco.
How San Francisco compares with United States and CA
San Jose leads at US$168,030, 4% above San Francisco, while Jacksonville sits at US$99,500. The neighbours in the ranking are San Jose and Denver.
CA has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$143,800, and San Francisco comes 2nd, +12% against it; elsewhere in the state: Los Angeles (US$123,900), San Diego (US$121,750) and San Jose (US$168,030).
Is US$161,370 a good salary in San Francisco?
Price levels in San Francisco (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$161,400.
Adjusting for prices does not move San Francisco in the ranking: it is 2nd of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (17% effective) and about US$11,200 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 15% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$7,660 remains.
San Francisco vs nearby CA metros
A mechanical engineer moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles (also in CA) would see the median fall 23% to US$123,900, with US$2,380 less left over monthly in our model.
San Diego (also in CA) pays US$121,750, 25% less than San Francisco; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,510 lower.
A mechanical engineer moving from San Francisco to New York (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median fall 32% to US$109,990, with US$3,280 less left over monthly in our model.
Where Mechanical Engineer ranks among San Francisco jobs
Of the 9 roles we track in San Francisco, Mechanical Engineer is 5th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$212,500).
Closest neighbours in the San Francisco list: Data Scientist at US$170,110 (+5%) and Frontend Developer at US$152,450 (-6%).
How San Francisco ranks at the low and high end
Entry and senior pay rank the same in San Francisco: 2nd of 21 at both the 10th and the 90th percentile.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$217,530 at the 90th percentile, +2% against San Francisco.
The mechanical engineer pay range in San Francisco
Pay is spread out: US$102,710 at the 10th percentile to US$212,380 at the 90th (2.1×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.