Median Salary
$104,110
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$50.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$164,340
entry level starts ~$73,990
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 297,000 employed
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make?
Mechanical Engineers in the United States bring home a median salary of $104,110 a year, or around $50.05 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $73,990, while the top 10% earn $164,340.
That is $42,720 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Mechanical Engineer salary range by percentile
Half of all Mechanical Engineers earn between $84,130 and $132,590 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,990 | $35.57 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $84,130 | $40.45 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $104,110 | $50.05 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $132,590 | $63.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,340 | $79.01 |
|
Highest-paying states for Mechanical Engineer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Mexico leads the country for Mechanical Engineer pay at $157,710 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($133,300) and California ($130,900). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $80,180 — a gap of $77,530 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Mechanical Engineer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $86,260Arkansas $80,180
Workforce and education
About 297,000 people work as Mechanical Engineers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $113,610 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in the United States?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in the United States is $104,110 per year, or about $50.05 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $73,990, while the top 10% of earners make $164,340 or more.
How does Mechanical Engineer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Mechanical Engineer median of $104,110 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Mechanical Engineers the most?
New Mexico is the highest-paying state for Mechanical Engineers, with a median salary of $157,710 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Mechanical Engineer?
Becoming a Mechanical Engineer typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Mechanical Engineers work in the United States?
About 297,000 people were employed as Mechanical Engineers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other engineering roles with similar pay.
$66,150
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.