Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 127 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $77,293 |
| 25th | $77,314 |
| 50th (median) | $81,884 |
| 75th | $94,997 |
| 90th | $115,320 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $68,008 | $67,163 | $74,970 | 114 |
| FY2021 | $74,750 | $68,765 | $84,236 | 116 |
| FY2022 | $73,200 | $71,365 | $84,000 | 93 |
| FY2023 | $80,000 | $70,224 | $88,000 | 69 |
| FY2024 | $76,230 | $73,424 | $81,000 | 73 |
| FY2025 | $78,750 | $77,314 | $86,250 | 80 |
| FY2026 | $96,720 | $80,000 | $114,500 | 47 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $81,884 is worth about $72,100 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 $81,884, 34% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Rivian | $125,000 | 19 |
| Harbinger Motors | too few | 5 |
| HCLTech | too few | 4 |
| Atoco | too few | 4 |
| Precision Cutting Tools | too few | 4 |
| Global Connect Technologies | too few | 3 |
| Ride Services | too few | 3 |
| Ford | too few | 2 |
| Alfa Tech Consulting Engineers | too few | 2 |
| Applied Manufacturing | too few | 2 |
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.