Mechanical Engineer Salary: San Diego, CA vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Mechanical Engineers in San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | Seattle, WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $121,750 | $126,590▲ | -$4,840 |
| 25th Percentile | $96,860 | $98,940▲ | -$2,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $151,920 | $155,290▲ | -$3,370 |
| 90th Percentile | $172,760▲ | $172,490 | +$270 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 111.9 | 111.1 | +0.8 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $108,815 | $113,909▲ | -$5,094 |
| Total Employment | 3,370 | 4,500 | -1,130 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $4,840 more (median: $121,750 vs $126,590). BEA's regional price parity is 111.9 in San Diego, CA and 111.1 in Seattle, WA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $108,815 and $113,909, so Seattle, WA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $4,840 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $108,815 for San Diego and $113,909 for Seattle, a difference of $5,094.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 3,370 Mechanical Engineer jobs in the San Diego area and 4,500 in the Seattle area. For broader context, see our California overview and the full Mechanical Engineer city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mechanical Engineer salary higher in San Diego, CA or Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA has the higher median wage for Mechanical Engineers ($126,590 per year, against $121,750 in San Diego, CA; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $108,815 in San Diego, CA and $113,909 in Seattle, WA.
How do prices compare between San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 111.9 for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area and 111.1 for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 11.9% above the national level for San Diego, CA and 11.1% above the national level for Seattle, WA.
Which city pays Mechanical Engineers more once local prices are counted?
Seattle, WA: at national-average prices its median Mechanical Engineer wage is $113,909, against $108,815 for San Diego, CA. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.