Mechanical Engineer Salary
Mechanical Engineers earn a median $104,110 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$104,110
$50.05 per hour
Range
$73,990 – $164,340
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
296,810
across the U.S.
▲1.7%
Pay trend: The median for mechanical engineers in the U.S. rose from $102,320 (May 2024) to $104,110 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.7%.
What mechanical engineers do
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +11.2% (much faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 17,800
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 11.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 17,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Mechanical Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$82,071
per year · effective tax rate 21.2%
$6,839Monthly
$3,420Twice a month
$3,157Every 2 weeks
$39.46Hourly
- Federal income tax$14,074
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,455
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,510
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$82,071
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,990 | $35.57 | $60,882 |
| 25th percentile | $84,130 | $40.45 | $68,015 |
| Median (50th) | $104,110 | $50.05 | $82,071 |
| 75th percentile | $132,590 | $63.75 | $101,891 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,340 | $79.01 | $123,592 |
Best cities for mechanical engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 | 5,540 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 | 8,310 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $108,687 | $94,009 | 5,150 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $93,946 | $88,810 | 4,530 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $97,790 | $87,994 | 4,500 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $80,065 | $83,952 | 3,310 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,990 | $90,238 | $82,875 | 5,390 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $85,723 | $82,042 | 3,050 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $100,730 | $77,706 | $81,394 | 2,630 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $99,630 | $75,174 | $81,232 | 4,330 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $109,470 | $81,440 | $81,198 | 22,500 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $105,420 | $82,993 | $80,505 | 5,600 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $119,300 | $87,013 | $80,369 | 6,890 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $101,950 | $76,993 | $79,090 | 2,470 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $98,050 | $74,798 | $79,008 | 3,470 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,410 | $79,077 | $77,108 | 4,850 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $121,750 | $85,805 | $76,689 | 3,370 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $123,900 | $87,048 | $76,650 | 8,780 |
| 19 | Grand Rapids, MI | $96,610 | $72,940 | $76,340 | 3,170 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $102,020 | $75,929 | $75,885 | 3,070 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,980 | $77,554 | $75,065 | 3,660 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $102,070 | $75,729 | $73,101 | 6,900 |
| 23 | New York, NY | $109,990 | $80,759 | $71,745 | 6,960 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN | $101,180 | $74,653 | $71,219 | 4,450 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $105,020 | $74,352 | $70,529 | 2,520 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $168,030
- San Francisco, CA — $161,370
- Denver, CO — $128,180
- Washington, DC — $126,990
- Seattle, WA — $126,590
- Houston, TX — $125,350
- Los Angeles, CA — $123,900
- San Diego, CA — $121,750
- Boston, MA — $119,300
- Baltimore, MD — $116,700
- New York, NY — $109,990
- Detroit, MI — $109,470
- Dallas, TX — $105,420
- Portland, OR — $105,020
- Philadelphia, PA — $104,410
Mechanical Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 | +11.5% | $112,664 | $103,780 – $203,140 | 2,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 | +2.5% | $94,015 | $86,820 – $195,190 | 510 |
| California | $130,900 | +3.6% | $91,090 | $82,070 – $203,620 | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125,130 | +18.0% | $89,875 | $65,890 – $168,180 | 610 |
| Colorado | $124,430 | +15.1% | $91,547 | $75,100 – $170,810 | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124,340 | −4.3% | $96,252 | $76,890 – $174,320 | 380 |
| Maryland | $122,870 | +10.0% | $89,734 | $79,670 – $176,680 | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | +4.8% | $89,726 | $70,350 – $181,550 | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | −2.7% | $87,013 | $79,570 – $166,480 | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | +0.7% | $91,667 | $71,730 – $151,810 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $116,230 | +0.8% | $86,679 | $79,000 – $195,190 | 1,560 |
| Texas | $112,410 | +3.9% | $87,910 | $75,810 – $175,210 | 22,080 |
| New Jersey | $112,300 | +4.9% | $82,869 | $79,160 – $162,800 | 4,180 |
| Washington | $110,430 | +1.0% | $86,518 | $79,400 – $167,680 | 8,240 |
| Vermont | $107,330 | +6.8% | $79,713 | $83,820 – $150,380 | 530 |
| Connecticut | $105,090 | −1.4% | $78,556 | $77,340 – $157,980 | 4,600 |
| Michigan | $104,890 | +2.1% | $78,413 | $76,310 – $159,840 | 34,630 |
| South Carolina | $104,580 | −0.7% | $77,284 | $74,260 – $166,340 | 5,780 |
| Virginia | $104,180 | +4.9% | $76,944 | $77,840 – $160,770 | 7,470 |
| New Hampshire | $103,660 | −0.2% | $81,755 | $72,740 – $165,500 | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $103,470 | +2.2% | $73,397 | $78,100 – $162,550 | 2,920 |
| Illinois | $102,680 | +3.0% | $76,128 | $72,150 – $160,160 | 11,790 |
| Nevada | $102,680 | +4.7% | $81,065 | $75,960 – $160,210 | 1,410 |
| Utah | $102,500 | +3.5% | $77,292 | $73,070 – $160,640 | 3,370 |
| New York | $102,440 | −2.6% | $75,893 | $74,990 – $160,220 | 8,590 |
| Maine | $102,430 | +0.9% | $75,061 | $78,440 – $137,280 | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $101,850 | +12.5% | $76,444 | $70,070 – $136,110 | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $101,050 | +1.6% | $76,500 | $65,370 – $139,810 | 4,170 |
| North Carolina | $100,720 | −0.3% | $76,177 | $71,260 – $155,550 | 9,560 |
| Georgia | $100,620 | +3.9% | $75,017 | $71,940 – $156,320 | 5,290 |
| Arizona | $100,270 | −2.2% | $77,072 | $71,030 – $159,040 | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $100,230 | +2.7% | $74,595 | $72,110 – $162,420 | — |
| Florida | $99,980 | +2.9% | $79,166 | $66,260 – $153,950 | 10,740 |
| Indiana | $99,590 | +0.4% | $75,983 | $66,330 – $143,090 | 8,690 |
| Tennessee | $99,550 | +0.2% | $78,863 | $64,150 – $156,150 | 3,930 |
| Missouri | $99,330 | +8.1% | $74,977 | $64,750 – $142,100 | 4,870 |
| Minnesota | $99,140 | +0.2% | $73,357 | $75,870 – $151,580 | 5,890 |
| Ohio | $99,100 | +2.9% | $76,604 | $69,160 – $138,020 | 14,390 |
| Hawaii | $98,740 | +3.7% | $72,319 | $66,110 – $141,500 | 530 |
| Mississippi | $98,000 | +8.0% | $74,585 | $62,210 – $136,990 | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,920 | +0.5% | $74,711 | $65,770 – $150,950 | 13,550 |
| Iowa | $97,700 | +0.1% | $74,501 | $71,050 – $137,540 | 3,470 |
| West Virginia | $97,390 | −3.2% | $73,585 | $64,640 – $143,030 | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $95,870 | +1.1% | $72,574 | $64,850 – $130,360 | 7,470 |
| Montana | $94,190 | −5.1% | $71,132 | $65,820 – $133,270 | 500 |
| Idaho | $93,190 | −10.1% | $70,558 | $63,660 – $141,020 | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $88,380 | −2.4% | $71,005 | $65,130 – $134,140 | 560 |
| Nebraska | $88,060 | +6.7% | $67,653 | $61,860 – $136,870 | 950 |
| North Dakota | $86,330 | +2.7% | $69,139 | $63,930 – $136,060 | 790 |
| Kansas | $86,260 | −6.0% | $65,500 | $72,210 – $131,660 | 4,630 |
| Arkansas | $80,180 | +2.0% | $62,322 | $57,650 – $131,840 | 1,410 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree | +12.4% |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $106,220 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | Bachelor's degree | +6.3% |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $109,370 | Bachelor's degree | +7.6% |
| Agricultural Engineer | $98,590 | Bachelor's degree | +6.9% |
| Marine Engineer and Naval Architect | $112,230 | Bachelor's degree | +6.7% |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree | +7.5% |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | Bachelor's degree | +5.4% |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree | +9.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make?
The national median salary for mechanical engineers is $104,110 a year ($50.05 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,990 and the top 10% earn over $164,340. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median pay at $157,710. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many mechanical engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 296,810 people work as mechanical engineers nationwide.