Senior Mechanical Engineer salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $142,400 |
| 25th | $156,000 |
| 50th (median) | $160,000 |
| 75th | $161,092 |
| 90th | $167,800 |
Cost of living
Santa Cruz's median senior Mechanical Engineer salary of $160,000 is worth about $145,600 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 $160,000, 20% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Joby Aero | $160,000 | 12 |
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.