Washington Median
$110,430
per year
Hourly Rate
$53.09
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+6% vs US median
US median $104,110
State Rank
#14 of 51
8,240 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in Washington?
A Mechanical Engineer working in Washington earns a median salary of $110,430 per year, or about $53.09 per hour. That is 6% above the national median of $104,110 for this occupation.
Within Washington, entry-level pay starts around $79,400 while the top 10% make $167,680 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $94,560 and $139,870 a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary range in Washington
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,400 | $38.17 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $94,560 | $45.46 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $110,430 | $53.09 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $139,870 | $67.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,680 | $80.62 |
|
How Washington compares
Washington ranks 14th 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 $112,300Vermont $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 Washington
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 Washington pay ($110,430) 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 Washington?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in Washington is $110,430 per year, or about $53.09 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $79,400 at the entry level to $167,680 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Washington pay compare to the national average?
Washington pays Mechanical Engineers about 6% more than the national median of $104,110. Washington ranks 14th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Washington a good state for Mechanical Engineers?
Yes on pay — Washington pays above the national median for this occupation, at $110,430 a year. About 8,240 Mechanical Engineers are employed in Washington. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Washington?
The highest-paying occupations in Washington include Cardiologist ($656,330), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($553,310), Dermatologist ($526,170), 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.