Skip to content
SalaryEngineer

Mechanical Engineer salary

Verified

Updated March 2025

Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.

Median pay

$102,320

U.S. typical

Top earners

$161,240

90th percentile

Entry level

$80,000

0–2 yrs

Senior

$138,000

15+ yrs

The median mechanical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $102,320 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $68,740, while top earners (90th percentile) make $161,240 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$102,320

Mean

$110,080

10th pct · $68,74090th pct · $161,240

What mechanical engineers do

Design mechanical systems and components, run simulations and physical tests, and oversee manufacturing and maintenance processes.

Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.

What affects mechanical engineer pay

  • ▹Industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer)
  • ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license
  • ▹Years of experience
  • ▹Metro and state cost of labor
  • ▹Design vs. manufacturing vs. R&D focus

Mechanical Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $80,000 for entry level engineers to $138,000+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs
$80,000
Early career 3–5 yrs
$96,000
Mid level 6–9 yrs
$110,500
Senior 10–14 yrs
$125,000
Principal / Staff 15+ yrs
$138,000

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers

Published mechanical engineer pay in the top-paying U.S. metro areas, vs the national benchmark.

15results

Mechanical Engineer salary by state

All 51 states with published mechanical engineer wage data, ranked highest to lowest. Open a state for its full metro-level breakdown.

RankStateMedian90th pct
1New Mexico$141,490$177,480
2District of Columbia$130,000$191,880
3Alaska$129,990$159,970
4California$126,370$188,660
5Massachusetts$122,670$168,530
6Wyoming$116,910$150,050
7Rhode Island$115,270$186,150
8Louisiana$114,050$172,320
9Maryland$111,740$169,270
10Washington$109,370$163,790
11Texas$108,240$170,260
12Colorado$108,060$176,300
13New Jersey$107,020$159,010
14Connecticut$106,600$155,570
15Delaware$106,020$172,340
16South Carolina$105,360$148,720
17New York$105,130$169,710
18New Hampshire$103,890$157,810
19Idaho$103,660$136,590
20Michigan$102,730$140,420
21Arizona$102,510$161,770
22Maine$101,500$131,870
23Oregon$101,290$144,970
24North Carolina$100,990$157,710
25West Virginia$100,610$136,930
26Vermont$100,520$140,140
27Illinois$99,730$143,500
28Kentucky$99,410$139,600
29Virginia$99,350$155,030
30Tennessee$99,330$142,230
31Montana$99,250$131,040
32Indiana$99,200$137,990
33Utah$99,050$136,440
34Minnesota$98,980$143,080
35Nevada$98,110$152,540
36Iowa$97,570$133,850
37Alabama$97,550$159,030
38Pennsylvania$97,450$148,120
39Florida$97,190$148,510
40Georgia$96,820$150,100
41Ohio$96,330$135,200
42Hawaii$95,250$132,950
43Wisconsin$94,820$130,990
44Missouri$91,890$131,750
45Kansas$91,770$132,630
46Mississippi$90,730$135,760
47South Dakota$90,590$128,810
48Oklahoma$90,510$136,020
49North Dakota$84,020$132,410
50Nebraska$82,510$129,290
51Arkansas$78,570$122,250

Figures are published state wage data, not modeled. States without published data for this occupation are not listed. See Source details for provenance.

Mechanical Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does a mechanical engineer make?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $102,320 per year. Most mechanical engineers earn between $68,740 and $161,240, and top earners (90th percentile) make $161,240 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.
What is the highest mechanical engineer salary?
Top-earning mechanical engineers (90th percentile) make about $161,240 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $147,730 in San Jose. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.
How much do entry-level mechanical engineers make?
Entry-level mechanical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $80,000 per year, rising to roughly $110,500 at mid-level and $138,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.
Do mechanical engineers make good money?
Yes. The median mechanical engineer salary of $102,320 is 15% below the roughly $120,395 median across engineering occupations, and experienced mechanical engineers can earn $161,240 or more.
Which cities pay mechanical engineers the most?
Estimated mechanical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($147,730), San Francisco ($145,640), and Baton Rouge ($132,850). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.
How can a mechanical engineer earn more?
Mechanical Engineer pay rises most with industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer), professional engineer (pe) license, and years of experience. Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.
Source details

Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers), national.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

Related searches

Mechanical Engineer salary by stateMechanical Engineer salary by cityAll engineering rolesMechanical Engineer vs Electrical EngineerSalary calculatorAerospace Engineer salaryIndustrial Engineer salary