How Much Does a Mechanical Engineer Make in California (CA) in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in California (CA)
$120,020/yr ($57.70/hr · $85,885 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$93,620 ($45.01/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$162,030 ($77.90/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$3,303.29
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$86.55/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $45.01/hr | $93,620 | −$24,689.53 | $68,930.47 | $2,651.17 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $57.70/hr | $120,020 | −$34,134.53 | $85,885.47 | $3,303.29 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $77.90/hr | $162,030 | −$49,951.30 | $112,078.70 | $4,310.72 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($47.92/hr)California ($57.70/hr)Florida ($46.45/hr)New York ($56.72/hr)Illinois ($50.37/hr)Arizona ($47.43/hr)New Jersey ($54.77/hr)Georgia ($46.94/hr)North Carolina ($46.45/hr)Washington ($56.23/hr)Pennsylvania ($48.41/hr)Ohio ($45.97/hr)Nevada ($47.92/hr)Colorado ($51.83/hr)Virginia ($51.34/hr)Massachusetts ($57.21/hr)Michigan ($46.94/hr)Tennessee ($44.99/hr)Indiana ($45.48/hr)Maryland ($52.81/hr)Minnesota ($50.86/hr)Missouri ($44.99/hr)Wisconsin ($47.43/hr)Oregon ($51.34/hr)Connecticut ($54.28/hr)Utah ($47.43/hr)South Carolina ($44.50/hr)Alabama ($43.03/hr)Louisiana ($43.52/hr)Kentucky ($43.52/hr)Oklahoma ($43.52/hr)Kansas ($44.99/hr)Iowa ($45.48/hr)New Mexico ($44.99/hr)Arkansas ($42.54/hr)Mississippi ($41.56/hr)Nebraska ($45.97/hr)Idaho ($45.48/hr)Hawaii ($52.81/hr)New Hampshire ($50.37/hr)Maine ($46.45/hr)Rhode Island ($49.88/hr)Montana ($44.99/hr)Delaware ($49.39/hr)South Dakota ($44.50/hr)North Dakota ($46.45/hr)Alaska ($53.30/hr)Vermont ($47.92/hr)West Virginia ($42.05/hr)Wyoming ($46.45/hr)