Arkansas Median
$80,180
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.55
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-23% vs US median
US median $104,110
State Rank
#51 of 51
1,410 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in Arkansas?
A Mechanical Engineer working in Arkansas earns a median salary of $80,180 per year, or about $38.55 per hour. That is 23% below the national median of $104,110 for this occupation.
Within Arkansas, entry-level pay starts around $57,650 while the top 10% make $131,840 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,620 and $103,850 a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary range in Arkansas
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,650 | $27.72 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $65,620 | $31.55 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $80,180 | $38.55 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $103,850 | $49.93 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,840 | $63.38 |
|
How Arkansas compares
Arkansas ranks 51st out of 51 states and territories for Mechanical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mechanical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $157,710District of Columbia $133,300California $130,900Delaware $125,130Colorado $124,430Alaska $124,340Maryland $122,870Louisiana $119,540Massachusetts $119,300Wyoming $117,750Rhode Island $116,230Texas $112,410New Jersey $112,300Washington $110,430Vermont $107,330Connecticut $105,090Michigan $104,890South Carolina $104,580Virginia $104,180New Hampshire $103,660Oregon $103,470Illinois $102,680Nevada $102,680Utah $102,500New York $102,440Maine $102,430Oklahoma $101,850Kentucky $101,050North Carolina $100,720Georgia $100,620Arizona $100,270Alabama $100,230Florida $99,980Indiana $99,590Tennessee $99,550Missouri $99,330Minnesota $99,140Ohio $99,100Hawaii $98,740Mississippi $98,000Pennsylvania $97,920Iowa $97,700West Virginia $97,390Wisconsin $95,870Montana $94,190Idaho $93,190South Dakota $88,380Nebraska $88,060North Dakota $86,330Kansas $86,260
Working as a Mechanical Engineer in Arkansas
Nationally, about 297,000 people work as Mechanical Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Arkansas pay ($80,180) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in Arkansas?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in Arkansas is $80,180 per year, or about $38.55 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $57,650 at the entry level to $131,840 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Arkansas pay compare to the national average?
Arkansas pays Mechanical Engineers about 23% less than the national median of $104,110. Arkansas ranks 51st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Arkansas a good state for Mechanical Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $80,180 a year. About 1,410 Mechanical Engineers are employed in Arkansas. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Arkansas?
The highest-paying occupations in Arkansas include Dermatologist ($422,060), Neurologist ($317,880), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($262,470), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Mechanical Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.