As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Mechanical Engineer I in San Diego, CA is $86,074. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $78,076 to $91,795, with most professionals earning between $70,794 and $97,004.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $91,795 | $7,650 | $1,765 | $44 |
| Average | $86,074 | $7,173 | $1,655 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,076 | $6,506 | $1,501 | $38 |
An entry-level Mechanical Engineer I with under 1 year experience makes about $85,477. With less than 2 years of experience, a mid-level Mechanical Engineer I makes around $86,074. After 2-4 years, the Mechanical Engineer I pay rises to about $87,098. Those senior Mechanical Engineer I with 5-8 years of experience earn roughly $87,781, and those Mechanical Engineer I having 8 years or more experience are expected to earn about $87,952 on average.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Mechanical Engineer I | $85,477 |
| Intermediate Level Mechanical Engineer I | $86,074 |
| Senior Level Mechanical Engineer I | $87,098 |
| Specialist Level Mechanical Engineer I | $87,781 |
| Expert Level Mechanical Engineer I | $87,952 |
| Entry Level | 7% |
| Mid Level | 8% |
| Senior Level | 10% |
| Top Level | 10% |
| Experienced | 11% |
Not the salary data you are looking for? Choose the city salary you want to see.
