Mechanical Engineers salary in Fresno, CA
Median pay for mechanical engineers in Fresno, CA: $95,030/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $61,810 – $150,930 · about 270 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($95,605) by −$575 (-1%).
What it's really worth in Fresno
With Fresno's cost of living at 104 (US=100), that $95,030 has the buying power of about $91,371 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $67,756 · median home $409,749 · median rent $2,020/mo.
How Fresno ranks for this job
On raw pay, Fresno, CA is 94th of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Fresno's cost of living is applied, it ranks 126th.
The headline number flatters Fresno. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, mechanical engineers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Fresno
A median home in Fresno, CA costs $409,749 — about 4.3× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,020/mo works out at 26% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where mechanical engineers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Fresno.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Fresno | Rent vs Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +62% | 1.8× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +44% | 1.6× |
| Albuquerque, NM | $133,660 | +41% | 0.7× |
| Tyler, TX | $130,720 | +38% | 0.7× |
Same job elsewhere in CA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Fresno | Rent vs Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +62% | 1.8× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +44% | 1.6× |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $126,560 | +33% | 1.8× |
| San Diego, CA | $122,350 | +29% | 1.5× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires mechanical engineers around Fresno
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Pelco · Manufacturing
- Foster Farms · Manufacturing
- Cargill · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Fresno
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 180 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.