Industrial Engineer salary in California
Industrial Engineers in California earn a median of $124,600 a year ($59.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 32,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,870 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $102,440. California ranks 5th of 51 states for industrial engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.8 industrial engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $125,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,900 | $37.45 |
| 25th percentile | $98,380 | $47.30 |
| Median | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| 75th percentile | $154,190 | $74.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,870 | $83.11 |
| Average (mean) | $125,850 | $60.51 |
Half of industrial engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,383.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,191.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,792.31 |
| Weekly | $2,396.15 |
| Hourly | $59.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Industrial Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,950 | 4,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,230 | 5,470 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $131,740 | 120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $121,660 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,790 | 380 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $119,050 | 3,990 |
| Vallejo, CA | $113,630 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $113,040 | 11,460 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $110,190 | 910 |
| Napa, CA | $106,380 | 30 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $104,700 | 280 |
| Visalia, CA | $101,860 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,700 | 1,580 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $101,630 | 610 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $101,280 | 280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $100,380 | 110 |
| Chico, CA | $99,350 | 40 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,330 | 30 |
| Modesto, CA | $98,560 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $97,650 | 260 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,100 | 60 |
| Merced, CA | $91,490 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for industrial engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 |
| Washington | $129,050 |
| Oregon | $128,290 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 |
| California | $124,600 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 |
| Delaware | $120,190 |
| Maryland | $119,930 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2112. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in California?
The median salary for industrial engineers in California is $124,600 a year, or $59.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial engineers make in California?
The top 10% of industrial engineers in California earn at least $172,870 a year. The top 25% earn $154,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,900 a year, and a quarter of industrial engineers earn $98,380 or less.
How many industrial engineers work in California?
About 32,680 industrial engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.