Mechanical Engineer salary in Riverside, CA
Based on 54 certified H-1B filings in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Ontario, Chino, Corona, Fontana, Hesperia.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,909 |
| 25th | $73,905 |
| 50th (median) | $89,000 |
| 75th | $112,439 |
| 90th | $137,952 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,000 | $69,000 | $90,000 | 41 |
| FY2021 | $82,519 | $72,197 | $95,000 | 29 |
| FY2022 | $90,709 | $78,083 | $103,334 | 21 |
| FY2023 | $93,521 | $84,635 | $115,000 | 21 |
| FY2024 | $93,000 | $84,635 | $109,200 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $88,940 | $75,785 | $103,750 | 34 |
| FY2026 | $90,000 | $77,755 | $128,691 | 20 |
Cost of living
Riverside's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $89,000 is worth about $83,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Riverside = 106.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Riverside, CA area earned a median of $104,910 in May 2025 (1,420 employed). The H-1B median here is $89,000, 15% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eldorado National (California) | $87,859 | 10 |
| ZO Motors North America | too few | 4 |
| Adura | too few | 2 |
| AMPS Solar | too few | 2 |
| Aranda Tooling | too few | 2 |
| Hussmann | too few | 2 |
| Inqbrands | too few | 2 |
| Jl Mag (U.s.a.) | too few | 2 |
| Pacific Packaging Machinery | 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 | $70,000 | 17 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,230 | 25 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 | $69,909 | $70,000 | 17 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,859 | $90,230 | 25 |
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.