SOC 17-2141 · May 2025 · United States
Mechanical Engineers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Mechanical Engineers across the United States is $104,110 per year, measured over 296,810 jobs. The highest state median is in New Mexico, at $157,710.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +9.1%
- Openings per year
- 18,100
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Mechanical Engineers
Pay for this occupation varies by 96.7% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. New Mexico pays $157,710 and Arkansas pays $80,180.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $157,710 | 2,710 | |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $133,300 | 510 | |
| 3 | California | $130,900 | 30,530 | |
| 4 | Delaware | $125,130 | 610 | |
| 5 | Colorado | $124,430 | 7,190 | |
| 6 | Alaska | $124,340 | 380 | |
| 7 | Maryland | $122,870 | 6,550 | |
| 8 | Louisiana | $119,540 | 1,890 | |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $119,300 | 7,680 | |
| 10 | Wyoming | $117,750 | 230 |
States with the most Mechanical Engineers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 34,630 | $104,890 | |
| 2 | California | 30,530 | $130,900 | |
| 3 | Texas | 22,080 | $112,410 | |
| 4 | Ohio | 14,390 | $99,100 | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 13,550 | $97,920 | |
| 6 | Illinois | 11,790 | $102,680 | |
| 7 | Florida | 10,740 | $99,980 | |
| 8 | North Carolina | 9,560 | $100,720 | |
| 9 | Indiana | 8,690 | $99,590 | |
| 10 | New York | 8,590 | $102,440 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $168,030 | 5,540 |
| 2 | San Francisco | $161,370 | 5,150 |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $135,530 | 540 |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | $132,920 | 190 |
| 5 | Salinas | $132,560 | 70 |
| 6 | Augusta | $128,740 | 980 |
| 7 | Peoria | $128,710 | 2,120 |
| 8 | Denver | $128,180 | 4,530 |
| 9 | Columbus | $127,700 | 1,000 |
| 10 | Lexington Park | $127,650 | 670 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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