Salary guide, May 2025
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Architectural and Engineering Managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was $234,590 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $214,320 and $292,250.
The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA median is $63,320 above the national median of $171,270, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
What should you know about san Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $174,850 | $214,320 | $234,590 | $292,250 | $318,400 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $84.06 | $103.04 | $112.78 | $140.51 | $153.08 |
BLS estimated 5,130 workers employed in this occupation in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Location quotient: 3.19.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $120,810 | $139,360 | $171,270 | $212,500 | $262,760 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $58.08 | $67.00 | $82.34 | $102.16 | $126.33 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Senior Mechanical Design Engineer median is $234,590. The all-occupations median in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $84,050. Ratio: 2.79 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 3.19 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $209,340 | $226,940 | Top-coded, no exact figure |
| May 2025 | $214,320 | $234,590 | $292,250 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $206,880 | $147,180 to $230,430 |
| Salinas, CA | $187,730 | $143,670 to $227,730 |
All roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · National page · Senior Mechanical Design Engineer ranked across metros