Mechanical Engineers salary in Modesto, CA
Median pay for mechanical engineers in Modesto, CA: $94,520/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $63,440 – $158,200 · about 120 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($95,605) by −$1,085 (-1%).
What it's really worth in Modesto
With Modesto's cost of living at 105 (US=100), that $94,520 has the buying power of about $89,910 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $74,872 · median home $468,302 · median rent $2,052/mo.
How Modesto ranks for this job
On raw pay, Modesto, CA is 101st of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Modesto's cost of living is applied, it ranks 138th.
The headline number flatters Modesto. 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 Modesto
A median home in Modesto, CA costs $468,302 — about 5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,052/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 Modesto.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Modesto | Rent vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +62% | 1.8× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +45% | 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 Modesto | Rent vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +62% | 1.8× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +45% | 1.6× |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $126,560 | +34% | 1.8× |
| San Diego, CA | $122,350 | +29% | 1.4× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires mechanical engineers around Modesto
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- E. & J. Gallo Winery · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Modesto
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.