Mechanical Engineer salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Based on 35 certified H-1B filings in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Scotts Valley, Aptos.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $102,000 |
| 25th | $114,500 |
| 50th (median) | $156,000 |
| 75th | $169,249 |
| 90th | $193,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | $135,000 | $110,019 | $165,000 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $132,500 | $110,000 | $160,000 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $150,000 | $124,750 | $175,000 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $161,000 | $139,589 | $170,000 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $128,800 | $108,100 | $160,000 | 19 |
| FY2026 | $166,750 | $138,000 | $183,250 | 16 |
Cost of living
Santa Cruz's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $156,000 is worth about $142,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Santa Cruz = 109.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Santa Cruz, CA area earned a median of $132,920 in May 2025 (190 employed). The H-1B median here is $156,000, 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Joby Aero | $159,542 | 24 |
| Heron Power Electronics | too few | 3 |
| World Products | 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 | too few | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $123,066 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | $160,000 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 5 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,163 | $123,066 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,254 | $160,000 | 13 |
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.