Mechanical Engineers salary
Mechanical Engineers earn a median of $104,110 a year ($50.05/hr) in the U.S. – from $72,240 in Puerto Rico to $157,710 in New Mexico. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$50.05/hr · $104,110 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$73,990$35.57/hr
75% earn more$84,130$40.45/hr
half earn more, half less$104,110$50.05/hr
25% earn more$132,590$63.75/hr
top 10% earn more$164,340$79.01/hr
pulled up by top earners$113,610$54.62/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among mechanical engineers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for mechanical engineers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
2,710 jobs · $75.82/hr$157,710
510 jobs · $64.09/hr$133,300
30,530 jobs · $62.94/hr$130,900
610 jobs · $60.16/hr$125,130
7,190 jobs · $59.82/hr$124,430
380 jobs · $59.78/hr$124,340
6,550 jobs · $59.07/hr$122,870
1,890 jobs · $57.47/hr$119,540
7,680 jobs · $57.36/hr$119,300
230 jobs · $56.61/hr$117,750
1,560 jobs · $55.88/hr$116,230
22,080 jobs · $54.05/hr$112,410
4,180 jobs · $53.99/hr$112,300
8,240 jobs · $53.09/hr$110,430
530 jobs · $51.60/hr$107,330
4,600 jobs · $50.52/hr$105,090
34,630 jobs · $50.43/hr$104,890
5,780 jobs · $50.28/hr$104,580
7,470 jobs · $50.09/hr$104,180
2,760 jobs · $49.84/hr$103,660
2,920 jobs · $49.74/hr$103,470
11,790 jobs · $49.37/hr$102,680
1,410 jobs · $49.37/hr$102,680
3,370 jobs · $49.28/hr$102,500
8,590 jobs · $49.25/hr$102,440
890 jobs · $49.25/hr$102,430
2,270 jobs · $48.97/hr$101,850
4,170 jobs · $48.58/hr$101,050
9,560 jobs · $48.42/hr$100,720
5,290 jobs · $48.37/hr$100,620
5,050 jobs · $48.21/hr$100,270
jobs n/a · $48.19/hr$100,230
10,740 jobs · $48.07/hr$99,980
8,690 jobs · $47.88/hr$99,590
3,930 jobs · $47.86/hr$99,550
4,870 jobs · $47.75/hr$99,330
5,890 jobs · $47.66/hr$99,140
14,390 jobs · $47.64/hr$99,100
530 jobs · $47.47/hr$98,740
1,570 jobs · $47.12/hr$98,000
13,550 jobs · $47.08/hr$97,920
3,470 jobs · $46.97/hr$97,700
760 jobs · $46.82/hr$97,390
7,470 jobs · $46.09/hr$95,870
500 jobs · $45.28/hr$94,190
1,070 jobs · $44.80/hr$93,190
560 jobs · $42.49/hr$88,380
950 jobs · $42.34/hr$88,060
790 jobs · $41.51/hr$86,330
4,630 jobs · $41.47/hr$86,260
1,410 jobs · $38.55/hr$80,180
490 jobs · $34.73/hr$72,240
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 17-2141. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do mechanical engineers make?
The median wage for mechanical engineers in the U.S. was $50.05 an hour or $104,110 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $84,130 and $132,590 a year.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median wage for mechanical engineers: $157,710 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $72,240. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many mechanical engineers are there?
BLS estimates 296,810 mechanical engineers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.