SOC 17-2141 · May 2025
Mechanical Engineer Salary
Mechanical Engineers in the US earn a median of $104,110 a year ($54.62 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Mechanical Engineer pay climbed from $93,540 in 2019 to $113,610 in 2025, a +21.5% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$104,110
Half of all Mechanical Engineers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+21.5% since 2019 · +3.2% YoY
Hourly
$54.62
Job growth 2025-35
+11.2%
US workers
296,810
BLS series
Annual median wage for Mechanical Engineers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Mechanical Engineers is $73,990 – $164,340.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$73,990
25th
$84,130
Median
$104,110
75th
$132,590
90th
$164,340
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Mechanical Engineers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $73,990 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $84,130 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $104,110 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $132,590 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $164,340 |
Geography
Mechanical Engineer pay by state
Mechanical Engineers earn the most in New Mexico ($157,710, +51% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($80,180). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$104,110
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 | +51% | 2,710 |
| D.C. | $133,300 | +28% | 510 |
| California | $130,900 | +26% | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125,130 | +20% | 610 |
| Colorado | $124,430 | +20% | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124,340 | +19% | 380 |
| Maryland | $122,870 | +18% | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | +15% | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | +15% | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | +13% | 230 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 | 2,710 |
| D.C. | $133,300 | 510 |
| California | $130,900 | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125,130 | 610 |
| Colorado | $124,430 | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124,340 | 380 |
| Maryland | $122,870 | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $116,230 | 1,560 |
| Texas | $112,410 | 22,080 |
| New Jersey | $112,300 | 4,180 |
| Washington | $110,430 | 8,240 |
| Vermont | $107,330 | 530 |
| Connecticut | $105,090 | 4,600 |
| Michigan | $104,890 | 34,630 |
| South Carolina | $104,580 | 5,780 |
| Virginia | $104,180 | 7,470 |
| New Hampshire | $103,660 | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $103,470 | 2,920 |
| Illinois | $102,680 | 11,790 |
| Nevada | $102,680 | 1,410 |
| Utah | $102,500 | 3,370 |
| New York | $102,440 | 8,590 |
| Maine | $102,430 | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $101,850 | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $101,050 | 4,170 |
| North Carolina | $100,720 | 9,560 |
| Georgia | $100,620 | 5,290 |
| Arizona | $100,270 | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $100,230 | – |
| Florida | $99,980 | 10,740 |
| Indiana | $99,590 | 8,690 |
| Tennessee | $99,550 | 3,930 |
| Missouri | $99,330 | 4,870 |
| Minnesota | $99,140 | 5,890 |
| Ohio | $99,100 | 14,390 |
| Hawaii | $98,740 | 530 |
| Mississippi | $98,000 | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,920 | 13,550 |
| Iowa | $97,700 | 3,470 |
| West Virginia | $97,390 | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $95,870 | 7,470 |
| Montana | $94,190 | 500 |
| Idaho | $93,190 | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $88,380 | 560 |
| Nebraska | $88,060 | 950 |
| North Dakota | $86,330 | 790 |
| Kansas | $86,260 | 4,630 |
| Arkansas | $80,180 | 1,410 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical engineers (BLS SOC 17-2141) design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal devices including machines, engines, and tools. The role requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering; PE licensure is standard for senior project responsibility. Pay varies by industry: aerospace, energy, and medical devices pay above the OEWS median; civil mechanical (HVAC consulting) and academic roles typically pay below.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $73,990 – $164,340. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are New Mexico, D.C. and California. Pay in New Mexico runs 2.0 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 17,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 11.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Mechanical Engineer salary in the US?
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make an hour?
How much do Mechanical Engineers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Mechanical Engineers the most?
Is the average Mechanical Engineer salary higher than the median?
Is Mechanical Engineer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Mechanical Engineer roles hiring now
Browse current Mechanical Engineer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 17-2141. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.