Mechanical Engineering Degree in Long Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Long Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$90K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$128K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.7 yrs
in Long Beach
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Long Beach, CA Overview
Long Beach, California (pop. 466,742) has 14 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 116 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,546/month. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Long Beach is approximately $90,480.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$4,169/yr
Private Tuition
$9,960/yr
Room & Board
$17,446/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,553/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
60%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Long Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Long Beach's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Long Beach adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Long Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Long Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $4,169 | Private avg: $9,960
Long Beach avg aid: $15,553/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,460
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$49,880
vs HS diploma in Long Beach
ROI Payback Period
1.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Long Beach
$1,015,540
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,102,000) minus total education cost ($86,460)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Long Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Long Beach for Mechanical Engineering
California State University, Long Beach
public
$6,798/yr
$27,192 total
Long Beach City College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Pacific Coast University School of Law
private
$9,960/yr
$39,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Long Beach City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Long Beach
Long Beach offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Long Beach Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$110K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$109K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$101K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$89K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$92K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$87K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Oakland, CA
$103K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$105K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Long Beach
Petroleum Engineering
$58K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$95K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$93K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$93K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Long Beach — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Mechanical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Long Beach.