Mechanical Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 855 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Irvine, Long Beach, Tustin, Carson, Garden Grove.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $90,000 |
| 25th | $101,500 |
| 50th (median) | $129,168 |
| 75th | $155,050 |
| 90th | $180,035 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $87,194 | $76,970 | $119,875 | 390 |
| FY2021 | $115,000 | $89,876 | $135,000 | 631 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $89,731 | $133,386 | 572 |
| FY2023 | $120,000 | $93,288 | $143,250 | 499 |
| FY2024 | $121,284 | $95,000 | $147,075 | 464 |
| FY2025 | $124,093 | $97,820 | $150,000 | 470 |
| FY2026 | $136,023 | $115,000 | $160,000 | 385 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $129,168 is worth about $113,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $123,900 in May 2025 (8,780 employed). The H-1B median here is $129,168, 4% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Rivian | $159,218 | 222 |
| Ford | $142,355 | 47 |
| Harbinger Motors | $140,000 | 35 |
| HCLTech | $98,987 | 25 |
| Apple | $139,500 | 16 |
| Tesla | $181,921 | 14 |
| GrayMatter Robotics | $127,500 | 12 |
| L&T Technology Services | $109,000 | 12 |
| The Boeing Company | $119,826 | 12 |
| Intellectt | $98,987 | 11 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $81,884 | 127 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,164 | 245 |
| Senior · Level III | $142,500 | 282 |
| Expert · Level IV | $155,000 | 182 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $77,314 | $81,884 | 127 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,987 | $106,164 | 245 |
| Senior · Level III | $117,104 | $142,500 | 282 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,355 | $155,000 | 182 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.