17 Series · SOC 17-2141
Mechanical Engineers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $104,110
- Median / year
- +1.7%
- 2024→2025
- $164,340
- Top 10% earn
- +9.1%
- Growth '24–'34
- 296,810
- Estimated US jobs
Mechanical Engineers earn a median of $104,110 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $104,110, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $73,990 (10th percentile) to $164,340 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 296,810 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is New Mexico ($157,710).
The pay verdict
Mechanical Engineers earn a median of $104,110, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 86% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #15 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% by 2034.
- $104,110
- Median annual wage
- Top 14%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #15 of 36
- in Architecture and Engineering
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Mexico at $157,710. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Mechanical Engineers moved from $88,430 in May 2019 to $104,110 in May 2025 (+17.7%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Mechanical Engineers sits -6.7 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) has a national median of $104,110 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $73,990 to $164,340, and the published mean is $113,610. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 296,810 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 53 state or territory areas and 466 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $102,320 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $104,110 in May 2025, a rise of $1,790 (+1.7%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +9.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 18,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Architecture and Engineering Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Mexico pays the highest state median at $157,710, which is +51% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $168,030. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$104,110
per year
Median Hourly
$50.05/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$113,610
average
Employment
296,810
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Mechanical Engineers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$104,110 Top 14% higher than 86% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 (this entry) | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$104,110 · 86th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Mechanical Engineers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Civil Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $100840
- Industrial Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11%, Median annual wage $102440
- Mechanical Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $104110
- Electrical Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.2%, Median annual wage $120630
- Engineers, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $122930
- Architects, Except L…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $99280
- Architectural and Ci…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $66150
- Electronics Engineer…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.2%, Median annual wage $130220
- Electrical and Elect…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $78190
- Computer Hardware En…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $161740
- Industrial Engineeri…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $66120
- Civil Engineering Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $64950
- Aerospace Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.1%, Median annual wage $134960
- Engineering Technolo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $78350
- Surveying and Mappin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $54240
- Surveyors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $75440
- Mechanical Drafters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $71550
- Environmental Engine…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $107110
- Bioengineers and Bio…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $109370
- Materials Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $112860
- Health and Safety En…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $115160
- Chemical Engineers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $125040
- Landscape Architects: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $79870
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+9.1%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
18,100
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+26,500
293,100 (2024) → 319,600 (2034)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Architecture and Engineering Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
2/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Mechanical Engineers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- ▸ Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- ▸ Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
- ▸ Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- ▸ Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
- ▸ Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.
- ▸ Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- ▸ Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
- ▸ Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- ▸ Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Mechanical Engineers pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $83,590 |
| 2016 | $84,190 |
| 2017 | $85,880 |
| 2018 | $87,370 |
| 2019 | $88,430 |
| 2020 | $90,160 |
| 2021 | $95,300 |
| 2022 | $96,310 |
| 2023 | $99,510 |
| 2024 | $102,320 |
| 2025 | $104,110 |
2015 median
$83,590
2025 median
$104,110
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$15,680 (+17.7%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+2.8%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $83,590 | First banked release | 278,340 |
| May 2016 | $84,190 | +0.7% | 285,790 |
| May 2017 | $85,880 | +2.0% | 291,290 |
| May 2018 | $87,370 | +1.7% | 303,440 |
| May 2019 | $88,430 | Classification break | 306,990 |
| May 2020 | $90,160 | +2.0% | 293,960 |
| May 2021 | $95,300 | +5.7% | 278,240 |
| May 2022 | $96,310 | +1.1% | 277,560 |
| May 2023 | $99,510 | +3.3% | 281,290 |
| May 2024 | $102,320 | +2.8% | 286,760 |
| May 2025 | $104,110 | +1.7% | 296,810 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $83,590 in May 2015 to $104,110 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2.8% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 306,990 in May 2019 to 296,810 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $157,710 | +51% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $133,300 | +28% above national |
| 3 | California | $130,900 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Delaware | $125,130 | +20% above national |
| 5 | Colorado | $124,430 | +20% above national |
| 6 | Alaska | $124,340 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Maryland | $122,870 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Louisiana | $119,540 | +15% above national |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $119,300 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Wyoming | $117,750 | +13% above national |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $116,230 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Texas | $112,410 | +8% above national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $112,300 | +8% above national |
| 14 | Washington | $110,430 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Vermont | $107,330 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Connecticut | $105,090 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Michigan | $104,890 | +1% above national |
| 18 | South Carolina | $104,580 | same as national |
| 19 | Virginia | $104,180 | same as national |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $103,660 | same as national |
| 21 | Oregon | $103,470 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Illinois | $102,680 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Nevada | $102,680 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $102,500 | 2% below national |
| 25 | New York | $102,440 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Maine | $102,430 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $101,850 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Kentucky | $101,050 | 3% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $100,720 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Georgia | $100,620 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Arizona | $100,270 | 4% below national |
| 32 | Alabama | $100,230 | 4% below national |
| 33 | Florida | $99,980 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Indiana | $99,590 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Tennessee | $99,550 | 4% below national |
| 36 | Missouri | $99,330 | 5% below national |
| 37 | Minnesota | $99,140 | 5% below national |
| 38 | Ohio | $99,100 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Hawaii | $98,740 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Mississippi | $98,000 | 6% below national |
| 41 | Pennsylvania | $97,920 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Iowa | $97,700 | 6% below national |
| 43 | West Virginia | $97,390 | 6% below national |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $95,870 | 8% below national |
| 45 | Montana | $94,190 | 10% below national |
| 46 | Idaho | $93,190 | 10% below national |
| 47 | South Dakota | $88,380 | 15% below national |
| 48 | Nebraska | $88,060 | 15% below national |
| 49 | North Dakota | $86,330 | 17% below national |
| 50 | Kansas | $86,260 | 17% below national |
| 51 | Arkansas | $80,180 | 23% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $72,240 | 31% below national |
| 53 | Guam | $61,510 | 41% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 346 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $168,030 | +61% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $161,370 | +55% above national |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | +30% above national |
| 4 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $132,920 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Salinas, CA | $132,560 | +27% above national |
| 6 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $128,740 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | +24% above national |
| 8 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $128,180 | +23% above national |
| 9 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | +23% above national |
| 10 | Lexington Park, MD | $127,650 | +23% above national |
| 11 | Ann Arbor, MI | $127,310 | +22% above national |
| 12 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $126,990 | +22% above national |
| 13 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,590 | +22% above national |
| 14 | Lake Charles, LA | $126,090 | +21% above national |
| 15 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $125,780 | +21% above national |
| 16 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $125,350 | +20% above national |
| 17 | Midland, TX | $125,200 | +20% above national |
| 18 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $124,780 | +20% above national |
| 19 | Boulder, CO | $124,360 | +19% above national |
| 20 | Corpus Christi, TX | $124,340 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $123,900 | +19% above national |
| 22 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $122,760 | +18% above national |
| 23 | Cheyenne, WY | $122,500 | +18% above national |
| 24 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $122,280 | +17% above national |
| 25 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $121,750 | +17% above national |
| 26 | Anchorage, AK | $121,610 | +17% above national |
| 27 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $121,130 | +16% above national |
| 28 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $120,970 | +16% above national |
| 29 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $120,650 | +16% above national |
| 30 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $120,070 | +15% above national |
| 31 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,790 | +15% above national |
| 32 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $119,300 | +15% above national |
| 33 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $118,920 | +14% above national |
| 34 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $117,990 | +13% above national |
| 35 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $117,420 | +13% above national |
| 36 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $117,380 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $116,700 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Logan, UT-ID | $116,680 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Decatur, AL | $115,750 | +11% above national |
| 40 | Napa, CA | $112,670 | +8% above national |
| 41 | Odessa, TX | $111,700 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $111,360 | +7% above national |
| 43 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $111,030 | +7% above national |
| 44 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $110,820 | +6% above national |
| 45 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $110,520 | +6% above national |
| 46 | Barnstable Town, MA | $110,200 | +6% above national |
| 47 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $110,200 | +6% above national |
| 48 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,990 | +6% above national |
| 49 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $109,550 | +5% above national |
| 50 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $109,540 | +5% above national |
| 51 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $109,470 | +5% above national |
| 52 | Colorado Springs, CO | $109,370 | +5% above national |
| 53 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $109,370 | +5% above national |
| 54 | Worcester, MA | $109,250 | +5% above national |
| 55 | Midland, MI | $109,230 | +5% above national |
| 56 | Chico, CA | $109,210 | +5% above national |
| 57 | Asheville, NC | $108,630 | +4% above national |
| 58 | Pittsfield, MA | $108,570 | +4% above national |
| 59 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $108,510 | +4% above national |
| 60 | Walla Walla, WA | $108,510 | +4% above national |
| 61 | Greeley, CO | $108,500 | +4% above national |
| 62 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $108,360 | +4% above national |
| 63 | Greenville, NC | $108,340 | +4% above national |
| 64 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $108,310 | +4% above national |
| 65 | Billings, MT | $107,930 | +4% above national |
| 66 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $107,600 | +3% above national |
| 67 | Tulsa, OK | $107,440 | +3% above national |
| 68 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $107,060 | +3% above national |
| 69 | Erie, PA | $106,890 | +3% above national |
| 70 | Vallejo, CA | $106,800 | +3% above national |
| 71 | Corvallis, OR | $106,700 | +2% above national |
| 72 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $106,690 | +2% above national |
| 73 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $106,660 | +2% above national |
| 74 | Bellingham, WA | $106,580 | +2% above national |
| 75 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $106,560 | +2% above national |
| 76 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $106,490 | +2% above national |
| 77 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $106,340 | +2% above national |
| 78 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $106,330 | +2% above national |
| 79 | Niles, MI | $106,320 | +2% above national |
| 80 | Tyler, TX | $106,240 | +2% above national |
| 81 | Charlottesville, VA | $106,130 | +2% above national |
| 82 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $105,980 | +2% above national |
| 83 | Redding, CA | $105,980 | +2% above national |
| 84 | Mobile, AL | $105,670 | +1% above national |
| 85 | Pueblo, CO | $105,580 | +1% above national |
| 86 | Bangor, ME | $105,450 | +1% above national |
| 87 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,420 | +1% above national |
| 88 | Kokomo, IN | $105,410 | +1% above national |
| 89 | Grand Junction, CO | $105,210 | +1% above national |
| 90 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,020 | +1% above national |
| 91 | Syracuse, NY | $105,020 | +1% above national |
| 92 | Modesto, CA | $104,990 | +1% above national |
| 93 | Spartanburg, SC | $104,990 | +1% above national |
| 94 | New Haven, CT | $104,950 | +1% above national |
| 95 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $104,910 | +1% above national |
| 96 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $104,840 | +1% above national |
| 97 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $104,620 | same as national |
| 98 | Albany, GA | $104,500 | same as national |
| 99 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $104,410 | same as national |
| 100 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $104,320 | same as national |
| 101 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $104,220 | same as national |
| 102 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $104,150 | same as national |
| 103 | Richmond, VA | $104,130 | same as national |
| 104 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $104,110 | same as national |
| 105 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $103,850 | same as national |
| 106 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $103,820 | same as national |
| 107 | Florence, SC | $103,800 | same as national |
| 108 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $103,700 | same as national |
| 109 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $103,450 | 1% below national |
| 110 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $103,380 | 1% below national |
| 111 | Ogden, UT | $103,100 | 1% below national |
| 112 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $102,990 | 1% below national |
| 113 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $102,980 | 1% below national |
| 114 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $102,820 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $102,630 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $102,610 | 1% below national |
| 117 | Elizabethtown, KY | $102,590 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Huntsville, AL | $102,450 | 2% below national |
| 119 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $102,350 | 2% below national |
| 120 | Columbia, SC | $102,280 | 2% below national |
| 121 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $102,280 | 2% below national |
| 122 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $102,270 | 2% below national |
| 123 | Roanoke, VA | $102,160 | 2% below national |
| 124 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,070 | 2% below national |
| 125 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $102,020 | 2% below national |
| 126 | Savannah, GA | $101,990 | 2% below national |
| 127 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,950 | 2% below national |
| 128 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $101,830 | 2% below national |
| 129 | Goldsboro, NC | $101,800 | 2% below national |
| 130 | Carson City, NV | $101,690 | 2% below national |
| 131 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $101,650 | 2% below national |
| 132 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $101,570 | 2% below national |
| 133 | Reno, NV | $101,520 | 2% below national |
| 134 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $101,500 | 3% below national |
| 135 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $101,470 | 3% below national |
| 136 | Chambersburg, PA | $101,400 | 3% below national |
| 137 | Mankato, MN | $101,350 | 3% below national |
| 138 | Yuba City, CA | $101,270 | 3% below national |
| 139 | Warner Robins, GA | $101,190 | 3% below national |
| 140 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $101,180 | 3% below national |
| 141 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $101,180 | 3% below national |
| 142 | Bend, OR | $101,130 | 3% below national |
| 143 | Wilmington, NC | $101,100 | 3% below national |
| 144 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $101,090 | 3% below national |
| 145 | Casper, WY | $101,010 | 3% below national |
| 146 | Sumter, SC | $101,010 | 3% below national |
| 147 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $100,980 | 3% below national |
| 148 | Battle Creek, MI | $100,950 | 3% below national |
| 149 | Dover, DE | $100,900 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Monroe, LA | $100,740 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Columbus, OH | $100,730 | 3% below national |
| 152 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $100,700 | 3% below national |
| 153 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,690 | 3% below national |
| 154 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $100,640 | 3% below national |
| 155 | Bloomington, IL | $100,500 | 3% below national |
| 156 | Winchester, VA-WV | $100,380 | 4% below national |
| 157 | Lincoln, NE | $100,360 | 4% below national |
| 158 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $100,360 | 4% below national |
| 159 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $100,340 | 4% below national |
| 160 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $100,310 | 4% below national |
| 161 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $100,290 | 4% below national |
| 162 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,280 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $100,230 | 4% below national |
| 164 | Longview, TX | $100,230 | 4% below national |
| 165 | Rochester, NY | $100,160 | 4% below national |
| 166 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $100,000 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Ithaca, NY | $99,990 | 4% below national |
| 168 | Jacksonville, NC | $99,780 | 4% below national |
| 169 | Tucson, AZ | $99,750 | 4% below national |
| 170 | Fayetteville, NC | $99,700 | 4% below national |
| 171 | Madison, WI | $99,680 | 4% below national |
| 172 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,660 | 4% below national |
| 173 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $99,630 | 4% below national |
| 174 | Vineland, NJ | $99,620 | 4% below national |
| 175 | Jacksonville, FL | $99,500 | 4% below national |
| 176 | Abilene, TX | $99,460 | 4% below national |
| 177 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $99,440 | 4% below national |
| 178 | Lima, OH | $99,290 | 5% below national |
| 179 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $99,290 | 5% below national |
| 180 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $99,150 | 5% below national |
| 181 | Rockford, IL | $99,150 | 5% below national |
| 182 | Bowling Green, KY | $99,090 | 5% below national |
| 183 | Knoxville, TN | $99,070 | 5% below national |
| 184 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $98,970 | 5% below national |
| 185 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $98,910 | 5% below national |
| 186 | Traverse City, MI | $98,900 | 5% below national |
| 187 | Amarillo, TX | $98,830 | 5% below national |
| 188 | Birmingham, AL | $98,810 | 5% below national |
| 189 | Fresno, CA | $98,740 | 5% below national |
| 190 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $98,740 | 5% below national |
| 191 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $98,730 | 5% below national |
| 192 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $98,680 | 5% below national |
| 193 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $98,680 | 5% below national |
| 194 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $98,670 | 5% below national |
| 195 | Topeka, KS | $98,620 | 5% below national |
| 196 | Ames, IA | $98,610 | 5% below national |
| 197 | Binghamton, NY | $98,560 | 5% below national |
| 198 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $98,550 | 5% below national |
| 199 | Reading, PA | $98,540 | 5% below national |
| 200 | Sheboygan, WI | $98,450 | 5% below national |
| 201 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $98,400 | 5% below national |
| 202 | Springfield, MA | $98,380 | 6% below national |
| 203 | Flagstaff, AZ | $98,150 | 6% below national |
| 204 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $98,140 | 6% below national |
| 205 | Charleston, WV | $98,050 | 6% below national |
| 206 | Pittsburgh, PA | $98,050 | 6% below national |
| 207 | Rocky Mount, NC | $98,040 | 6% below national |
| 208 | Salem, OR | $98,010 | 6% below national |
| 209 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $97,950 | 6% below national |
| 210 | Akron, OH | $97,920 | 6% below national |
| 211 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $97,900 | 6% below national |
| 212 | Bloomington, IN | $97,830 | 6% below national |
| 213 | Owensboro, KY | $97,810 | 6% below national |
| 214 | Idaho Falls, ID | $97,540 | 6% below national |
| 215 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $97,400 | 6% below national |
| 216 | Cleveland, OH | $97,220 | 7% below national |
| 217 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $97,200 | 7% below national |
| 218 | Rochester, MN | $97,100 | 7% below national |
| 219 | Johnson City, TN | $97,040 | 7% below national |
| 220 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $97,030 | 7% below national |
| 221 | Oklahoma City, OK | $96,930 | 7% below national |
| 222 | Albany, OR | $96,710 | 7% below national |
| 223 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $96,690 | 7% below national |
| 224 | Waco, TX | $96,680 | 7% below national |
| 225 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $96,610 | 7% below national |
| 226 | Sandusky, OH | $96,580 | 7% below national |
| 227 | Ocala, FL | $96,520 | 7% below national |
| 228 | Jackson, TN | $96,290 | 8% below national |
| 229 | Iowa City, IA | $96,190 | 8% below national |
| 230 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $96,180 | 8% below national |
| 231 | Bay City, MI | $96,000 | 8% below national |
| 232 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $95,900 | 8% below national |
| 233 | Burlington, NC | $95,870 | 8% below national |
| 234 | Flint, MI | $95,850 | 8% below national |
| 235 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $95,850 | 8% below national |
| 236 | Glens Falls, NY | $95,820 | 8% below national |
| 237 | Wichita Falls, TX | $95,710 | 8% below national |
| 238 | Winston-Salem, NC | $95,600 | 8% below national |
| 239 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $95,580 | 8% below national |
| 240 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $95,530 | 8% below national |
| 241 | Fond du Lac, WI | $95,410 | 8% below national |
| 242 | Las Cruces, NM | $95,370 | 8% below national |
| 243 | Fort Wayne, IN | $95,310 | 8% below national |
| 244 | Jackson, MI | $95,280 | 8% below national |
| 245 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $95,250 | 9% below national |
| 246 | Evansville, IN | $95,220 | 9% below national |
| 247 | Monroe, MI | $95,190 | 9% below national |
| 248 | Toledo, OH | $95,170 | 9% below national |
| 249 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $95,150 | 9% below national |
| 250 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $95,000 | 9% below national |
| 251 | Lawrence, KS | $94,990 | 9% below national |
| 252 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $94,940 | 9% below national |
| 253 | Lynchburg, VA | $94,630 | 9% below national |
| 254 | Wichita, KS | $94,610 | 9% below national |
| 255 | Montgomery, AL | $94,570 | 9% below national |
| 256 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $94,560 | 9% below national |
| 257 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $94,520 | 9% below national |
| 258 | Green Bay, WI | $94,450 | 9% below national |
| 259 | Rapid City, SD | $94,180 | 10% below national |
| 260 | York-Hanover, PA | $94,160 | 10% below national |
| 261 | Paducah, KY-IL | $94,060 | 10% below national |
| 262 | Medford, OR | $94,030 | 10% below national |
| 263 | Utica-Rome, NY | $93,980 | 10% below national |
| 264 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $93,970 | 10% below national |
| 265 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $93,860 | 10% below national |
| 266 | Tallahassee, FL | $93,810 | 10% below national |
| 267 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $93,800 | 10% below national |
| 268 | Dothan, AL | $93,750 | 10% below national |
| 269 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $93,650 | 10% below national |
| 270 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $93,550 | 10% below national |
| 271 | Gainesville, GA | $93,420 | 10% below national |
| 272 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $93,310 | 10% below national |
| 273 | Lebanon, PA | $93,210 | 10% below national |
| 274 | Twin Falls, ID | $93,190 | 10% below national |
| 275 | Omaha, NE-IA | $93,180 | 10% below national |
| 276 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,060 | 11% below national |
| 277 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $92,940 | 11% below national |
| 278 | Springfield, IL | $92,920 | 11% below national |
| 279 | Visalia, CA | $92,770 | 11% below national |
| 280 | Yuma, AZ | $92,230 | 11% below national |
| 281 | Punta Gorda, FL | $92,220 | 11% below national |
| 282 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $91,820 | 12% below national |
| 283 | Columbus, GA-AL | $91,430 | 12% below national |
| 284 | El Paso, TX | $91,430 | 12% below national |
| 285 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $91,430 | 12% below national |
| 286 | Boise City, ID | $91,340 | 12% below national |
| 287 | Lubbock, TX | $91,110 | 12% below national |
| 288 | Saginaw, MI | $91,040 | 13% below national |
| 289 | Dalton, GA | $90,940 | 13% below national |
| 290 | St. Cloud, MN | $90,670 | 13% below national |
| 291 | State College, PA | $90,530 | 13% below national |
| 292 | Duluth, MN-WI | $90,490 | 13% below national |
| 293 | Kingston, NY | $90,150 | 13% below national |
| 294 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $90,070 | 13% below national |
| 295 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $89,960 | 14% below national |
| 296 | Missoula, MT | $89,730 | 14% below national |
| 297 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $89,720 | 14% below national |
| 298 | Springfield, OH | $89,520 | 14% below national |
| 299 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $89,380 | 14% below national |
| 300 | Jefferson City, MO | $89,120 | 14% below national |
| 301 | Mansfield, OH | $88,770 | 15% below national |
| 302 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $88,770 | 15% below national |
| 303 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $88,770 | 15% below national |
| 304 | Bozeman, MT | $87,840 | 16% below national |
| 305 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $87,690 | 16% below national |
| 306 | Fargo, ND-MN | $86,330 | 17% below national |
| 307 | Morgantown, WV | $86,270 | 17% below national |
| 308 | Williamsport, PA | $86,110 | 17% below national |
| 309 | Muncie, IN | $86,010 | 17% below national |
| 310 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $85,740 | 18% below national |
| 311 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $85,490 | 18% below national |
| 312 | Appleton, WI | $85,260 | 18% below national |
| 313 | Kenosha, WI | $84,780 | 19% below national |
| 314 | St. George, UT | $84,690 | 19% below national |
| 315 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $84,630 | 19% below national |
| 316 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $84,370 | 19% below national |
| 317 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $83,920 | 19% below national |
| 318 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $83,760 | 20% below national |
| 319 | Lancaster, PA | $83,710 | 20% below national |
| 320 | Terre Haute, IN | $83,550 | 20% below national |
| 321 | Joplin, MO-KS | $83,430 | 20% below national |
| 322 | Elmira, NY | $83,220 | 20% below national |
| 323 | Yakima, WA | $83,220 | 20% below national |
| 324 | Manhattan, KS | $83,200 | 20% below national |
| 325 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $82,900 | 20% below national |
| 326 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $82,800 | 20% below national |
| 327 | Lafayette, LA | $82,520 | 21% below national |
| 328 | Columbia, MO | $82,200 | 21% below national |
| 329 | Kankakee, IL | $81,840 | 21% below national |
| 330 | Jackson, MS | $81,300 | 22% below national |
| 331 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $80,500 | 23% below national |
| 332 | Morristown, TN | $80,490 | 23% below national |
| 333 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $80,180 | 23% below national |
| 334 | Springfield, MO | $80,020 | 23% below national |
| 335 | Merced, CA | $79,600 | 24% below national |
| 336 | Wausau, WI | $79,340 | 24% below national |
| 337 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $79,300 | 24% below national |
| 338 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $78,950 | 24% below national |
| 339 | Altoona, PA | $78,670 | 24% below national |
| 340 | Eau Claire, WI | $78,360 | 25% below national |
| 341 | Hattiesburg, MS | $76,770 | 26% below national |
| 342 | Jonesboro, AR | $76,690 | 26% below national |
| 343 | Johnstown, PA | $76,210 | 27% below national |
| 344 | San Angelo, TX | $75,930 | 27% below national |
| 345 | Gainesville, FL | $75,490 | 27% below national |
| 346 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $74,400 | 29% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 17 (Architecture and Engineering Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
SOC 17-3021
Aerospace Engineers
SOC 17-2011
Agricultural Engineers
SOC 17-2021
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
SOC 17-1011
Architectural and Civil Drafters
SOC 17-3011
Showing 5 of 35 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Architecture and Engineering Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($104,110 here) and reported employment (296,810 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Mechanical Engineers pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $132,590/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New Mexico leads at $157,710/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.