How much does a mechanical engineer make?
The median mechanical engineer in the United States earns $104,110 per year, about $50.05 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all mechanical engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 17-2141.
Mechanical engineer salary range
Pay for mechanical engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $73,990 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $164,340. The average (mean) wage of $113,610 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,990 | $35.57 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $84,130 | $40.45 | |
| Median (50th) | $104,110 | $50.05 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $132,590 | $63.75 | |
| 90th percentile | $164,340 | $79.01 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for mechanical engineers (SOC 17-2141), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Mechanical engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Mechanical engineers earn the most in New Mexico at $157,710 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $80,180. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 | 2,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 | 510 |
| California | $130,900 | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125,130 | 610 |
| Colorado | $124,430 | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124,340 | 380 |
| Maryland | $122,870 | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $116,230 | 1,560 |
| Texas | $112,410 | 22,080 |
| New Jersey | $112,300 | 4,180 |
| Washington | $110,430 | 8,240 |
| Vermont | $107,330 | 530 |
| Connecticut | $105,090 | 4,600 |
| Michigan | $104,890 | 34,630 |
| South Carolina | $104,580 | 5,780 |
| Virginia | $104,180 | 7,470 |
| New Hampshire | $103,660 | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $103,470 | 2,920 |
| Illinois | $102,680 | 11,790 |
| Nevada | $102,680 | 1,410 |
| Utah | $102,500 | 3,370 |
| New York | $102,440 | 8,590 |
| Maine | $102,430 | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $101,850 | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $101,050 | 4,170 |
| North Carolina | $100,720 | 9,560 |
| Georgia | $100,620 | 5,290 |
| Arizona | $100,270 | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $100,230 | N/A |
| Florida | $99,980 | 10,740 |
| Indiana | $99,590 | 8,690 |
| Tennessee | $99,550 | 3,930 |
| Missouri | $99,330 | 4,870 |
| Minnesota | $99,140 | 5,890 |
| Ohio | $99,100 | 14,390 |
| Hawaii | $98,740 | 530 |
| Mississippi | $98,000 | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,920 | 13,550 |
| Iowa | $97,700 | 3,470 |
| West Virginia | $97,390 | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $95,870 | 7,470 |
| Montana | $94,190 | 500 |
| Idaho | $93,190 | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $88,380 | 560 |
| Nebraska | $88,060 | 950 |
| North Dakota | $86,330 | 790 |
| Kansas | $86,260 | 4,630 |
| Arkansas | $80,180 | 1,410 |
State median wages for mechanical engineers (SOC 17-2141), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for mechanical engineers
The BLS projects employment of mechanical engineers to grow 11.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 298,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 332,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 17,800 openings a year for mechanical engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a mechanical engineer
The typical entry-level education for mechanical engineers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a mechanical engineer earns
Discipline, licensure (such as a PE license), industry, and region drive pay. Senior, licensed engineers in high demand fields and expensive metros earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Mexico, $157,710) and the lowest (Arkansas, $80,180) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 296,810 people work as mechanical engineers in the United States. At $104,110 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Mechanical engineer salary FAQ
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a mechanical engineer is $50.05. The middle half of mechanical engineers earn between $40.45 and $63.75 per hour.
What is the highest mechanical engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of mechanical engineers earn more than $164,340 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a mechanical engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for a mechanical engineer is $104,110. The average (mean) wage of $113,610 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a mechanical engineer a well paid job?
At $104,110 a year, a mechanical engineer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 296,810 people work as mechanical engineers in the United States.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median salary for mechanical engineers at $157,710 a year. District of Columbia ($133,300) and California ($130,900) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a mechanical engineer a good career?
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 11.2% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 17,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a mechanical engineer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for mechanical engineers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Engineering & Architecture salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.