Salaries › Engineering Manager › California
Engineering Manager Salary in California (2026)
$101.10 per hour · take-home ≈ $141,019/year ($11,752/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Engineering Managers (2nd of 51), with a median about 20% above the national average. Of the 29,630 Engineering Manager jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $210,280 a year — though pay ranges from $137,900 for newcomers to $296,130 at the top.
Engineering Manager pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $137,900 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $169,140 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $210,280 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $251,890 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $296,130 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 29,630 Engineering Manager jobs in California (occupation code 11-9041, “Architectural and Engineering Managers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Engineering Manager salary of $210,280 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $141,019 — an effective tax rate of 32.9%.
| Gross (median) | $210,280 |
| Federal income tax | −$39,201 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$14,581 |
| California state income tax | −$15,479 |
| Take-home (annual) | $141,019 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $11,752 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Engineering Manager make in California?
- The median Engineering Manager salary in California is $210,280 per year ($101.10 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $169,140 and $251,890.
- What is the take-home pay for a Engineering Manager in California?
- On the median salary of $210,280, a single filer in California takes home about $141,019 per year ($11,752 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 32.9%.
- How many Engineering Manager jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 29,630 Engineering Manager jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Engineering Managers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.