District of Columbia Median
$133,300
per year
Hourly Rate
$64.09
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+28% vs US median
US median $104,110
State Rank
#2 of 51
510 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in District of Columbia?
Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia take home a median of $133,300 annually — roughly $64.09 an hour — which runs 28% above the national median of $104,110.
Within District of Columbia, entry-level pay starts around $86,820 while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $107,300 and $166,360 a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary range in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,820 | $41.74 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $107,300 | $51.59 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $133,300 | $64.09 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $166,360 | $79.98 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
|
How District of Columbia compares
District of Columbia ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories for Mechanical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mechanical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $157,710California $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 $86,260Arkansas $80,180
Working as a Mechanical Engineer in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia pay ($133,300) 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 District of Columbia?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in District of Columbia is $133,300 per year, or about $64.09 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $86,820 at the entry level to $195,190 for the top 10% of earners.
How does District of Columbia pay compare to the national average?
District of Columbia pays Mechanical Engineers about 28% more than the national median of $104,110. District of Columbia ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is District of Columbia a good state for Mechanical Engineers?
Yes on pay — District of Columbia pays above the national median for this occupation, at $133,300 a year. About 510 Mechanical Engineers are employed in District of Columbia. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in District of Columbia?
The highest-paying occupations in District of Columbia include Neurologist ($332,000), Emergency Medicine Physician ($318,200), Podiatrist ($265,740), 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.