As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Physical Engineer in California is $72,521, equivalent to $35 per hour, $1,395 weekly, or $6,043 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Physical Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Physical Engineer in California vary widely, spanning from $57,650 to $78,689. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($64,737) and 75th percentile ($75,749), while top earners (90th percentile) make $78,689 per year. This $11,012 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Material Flow, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, California Physical Engineer often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 42 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for Physical 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
Physical Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $57,650 CA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $64,737 CA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $72,521 CA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $75,749 CA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $78,689 CA April 01, 2026
25% $64,737 10% $57,650 90% $78,689 75% $75,749 $72,521 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Senior Physical Design Engineer

Mirafra Technologies - San Jose, CA

Physical Design Engineer

Socionext US - Milpitas, CA

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What is A Physical Engineer ?

A Physical Engineer specializes in applying principles of physics and engineering to develop solutions for various technical challenges. Responsibilities include designing and testing equipment, conducting experiments, and analyzing data to improve product performance. Physical Engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to innovate and enhance technologies in fields such as aerospace, automotive, and energy. Salaries for Physical Engineers can vary widely based on factors such as experience, education, industry, and geographic location. On average, entry-level positions may sta...

Source: (as of 06/04/2025). Read more from

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Coachella, CA Avg. Salary $74,653 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Acampo, CA Avg. Salary $76,192 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Acton, CA Avg. Salary $78,422 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adelanto, CA Avg. Salary $74,596 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adin, CA Avg. Salary $72,864 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Agoura Hills, CA Avg. Salary $77,396 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Aguanga, CA Avg. Salary $74,753 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Ahwahnee, CA Avg. Salary $70,969 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Alameda, CA Avg. Salary $87,015 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Alamo, CA Avg. Salary $86,816 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Job Openings for Physical Engineer in California

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Physical Engineer

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Materials Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Jobs with a similar salary range to Physical Engineer : Material Science Engineering