Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 144 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cupertino, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $102,336 |
| 25th | $104,897 |
| 50th (median) | $108,160 |
| 75th | $122,179 |
| 90th | $147,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $83,850 | $83,699 | $90,000 | 86 |
| FY2021 | $90,000 | $82,000 | $99,749 | 61 |
| FY2022 | $85,733 | $83,763 | $92,750 | 74 |
| FY2023 | $92,955 | $88,296 | $104,738 | 75 |
| FY2024 | $99,700 | $92,955 | $108,000 | 93 |
| FY2025 | $105,000 | $102,336 | $114,180 | 77 |
| FY2026 | $115,000 | $106,000 | $141,206 | 67 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $108,160 is worth about $98,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $168,030 in May 2025 (5,540 employed). The H-1B median here is $108,160, 36% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Western Digital Technologies | $102,336 | 14 |
| Apple | $147,400 | 10 |
| Tesla | too few | 8 |
| Super Micro Computer | too few | 5 |
| Intellectt | too few | 4 |
| Nuro | too few | 4 |
| NWE Technology | too few | 4 |
| Vibrant America | too few | 4 |
| HCLTech | too few | 3 |
| Applied Intuition | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $108,160 | 144 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $140,718 | 386 |
| Senior · Level III | $160,000 | 449 |
| Expert · Level IV | $185,869 | 397 |
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 | $105,269 | $108,160 | 144 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $128,690 | $140,718 | 386 |
| Senior · Level III | $155,043 | $160,000 | 449 |
| Expert · Level IV | $185,869 | $185,869 | 397 |
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.