Rhode Island Median
$116,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$55.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+12% vs US median
US median $104,110
State Rank
#11 of 51
1,560 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in Rhode Island?
A Mechanical Engineer working in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $116,230 per year, or about $55.88 per hour. That is 12% above the national median of $104,110 for this occupation.
Within Rhode Island, entry-level pay starts around $79,000 while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $99,350 and $154,690 a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary range in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,000 | $37.98 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $99,350 | $47.76 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $116,230 | $55.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $154,690 | $74.37 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
|
How Rhode Island compares
Rhode Island ranks 11th 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 $117,750Texas $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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island pay ($116,230) 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 Rhode Island?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in Rhode Island is $116,230 per year, or about $55.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $79,000 at the entry level to $195,190 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Rhode Island pay compare to the national average?
Rhode Island pays Mechanical Engineers about 12% more than the national median of $104,110. Rhode Island ranks 11th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Rhode Island a good state for Mechanical Engineers?
Yes on pay — Rhode Island pays above the national median for this occupation, at $116,230 a year. About 1,560 Mechanical Engineers are employed in Rhode Island. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Rhode Island?
The highest-paying occupations in Rhode Island include Emergency Medicine Physician ($512,730), Family Medicine Physician ($467,160), Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($450,370), 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.