Salary AI Book a Demo

Flight Maintenance Engineer Salary in California

How much does a Flight Maintenance Engineer make in California? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Flight Maintenance Engineer in California is $88,132 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

However, a Flight Maintenance Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $98,520
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,630 to $93,570
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,711
Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Flight Maintenance Engineer Job Openings in California

Key Factors That Influence Flight Maintenance Engineer Salaries

A Flight Maintenance Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Flight Maintenance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Flight Maintenance Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $86,999
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,043
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,458
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $152,749
  • Expert (over 8 years): $180,226
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Flight Maintenance Engineer less than 1 year $86,999
Reliability Engineer II 1-2 years $104,043
Reliability Engineer III 2-4 years $125,458
Reliability Engineer IV 5-8 years $152,749
Reliability Engineer V over 8 years $180,226

How Do Flight Maintenance Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Flight Maintenance Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $88,468.
  • California: $88,132.
  • Massachusetts: $86,957.

Top Paying Cities for Flight Maintenance Engineer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Los Angeles: $88,284
  • West Hollywood: $88,220
  • Dodgertown: $88,283

Flight Maintenance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Flight Maintenance Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Flight Maintenance Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Flight Maintenance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Flight Maintenance Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction $105,758 $51.0 20%
Pharmaceuticals $105,758 $51.0 20%
Energy & Utilities $101,352 $49.0 15%
Aerospace & Defense $96,945 $47.0 10%
MFG Durable $96,945 $47.0 10%

Flight Maintenance Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Flight Maintenance Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$81,630
Average $88,132/year
$93,570
$6,803
Average $7,344/month
$7,797
$1,570
Average $1,695/week
$1,799
$39
Average $42/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $93,570 $7,797 $1,799 $45
Average $88,132 $7,344 $1,695 $42
25th Percentile $81,630 $6,803 $1,570 $39

Find Your Next Flight Maintenance Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Flight Maintenance Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Astro Mechanica | San Francisco, CA

    Flight Sciences Software Engineer

    Astro Mechanica | San Francisco, CA

    Software EngineerAstro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. | San Luis Obispo, CA

    Flight Controls Engineer

    Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. | San Luis Obispo, CA

    Job Description. Job Description.  Flight Controls Engineer  . Job Summary: . ESAero is seeking an experienced Flight Controls Engineer with fixed wing, ro... more

    7 Days Ago

  • E-Space | Saratoga, CA

    Flight Dynamics Engineer

    E-Space | Saratoga, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure, and actionable. Then you’ve come to the right place... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Shield AI | San Mateo, CA

    Flight Test Engineer

    Shield AI | San Mateo, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with inte... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Impulse Space | Redondo Beach, CA

    Flight Software Engineer

    Impulse Space | Redondo Beach, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. As a. Flight Software Engineer. at Impulse, you will be responsible for the design, development, and integra... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Elroy Air | Byron, CA

    Flight Sciences Engineer

    Elroy Air | Byron, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. At Elroy Air, we build autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo drones to change the way the world moves good... more

    8 Days Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst