As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Los Angeles, CA is $327,328, equivalent to $157 per hour, $6,295 weekly, or $27,277 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Los Angeles, CA vary widely, spanning from $267,969 to $366,299. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($296,258) and 75th percentile ($347,727), while top earners (90th percentile) make $366,299 per year. This $51,469 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Los Angeles Chief Engineer often earn 0.2% higher than national averages. However, Los Angeles currently ranks 69 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $267,969 Los Angeles, CA May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $296,258 Los Angeles, CA May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $327,328 Los Angeles, CA May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $347,727 Los Angeles, CA May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $366,299 Los Angeles, CA May 01, 2026
25% $296,258 10% $267,969 90% $366,299 75% $347,727 $327,328 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Chief Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, California

Chief Engineer

JLL - Milpitas, CA, CA

Chief Engineer

JLL - Santa Clara, CA, CA

Chief Facilities Engineer

1440 Multiversity - Scotts Valley, CA

Chief Engineer

Sinclair Broadcast Group - Redding, CA

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Los Angeles, CA

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chief Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
296258
347727
327328

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
386491
537940
452027
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Los Angeles, CA. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $296,258 to $347,727 with the average base salary of $327,328. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $386,491 to $537,940 with the average total cash compensation of $452,027.

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296258
347727

 

About Los Angeles, California    Los Angeles (/lɔːs ˈændʒələs/ (listen);[a] Spanish: Los Ángeles), officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A., is the most....More

Los Angeles, California  area prices were up 3.2% from a year ago

Chief Engineer Salary in popular cities: San DiegoSan JoseSan Francisco

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