How much does a Mechanical Engineers make?

The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers is $104,110 ($50 per hour). Pay ranges from about $73,990 at the 10th percentile to $164,340 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Mechanical Engineers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $113,610, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Mechanical Engineerss the most?

New Mexico has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $157,710.

Is Mechanical Engineers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 297K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Mechanical Engineers do?

Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.; Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.; Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations..

Mechanical Engineers Salary

Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 297K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$104,110

Median hourly

$50

Average annual

$113,610

Typical range

$73,990–$164,340

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$73,990

25th$84,130

Median$104,110

75th$132,590

90th$164,340

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Mechanical Engineers is $104,110 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $50 an hour at a full-time schedule.

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..

Most earn between $73,990 and $164,340 a year. There are roughly 297K people employed as mechanical engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Mechanical Engineers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $50.05
Daily: $400
Weekly: $2,002
Bi-weekly: $4,004
Monthly: $8,676
Annual: $104,110

$104,110 a year is around the 50th percentile for Mechanical Engineerss. The median is $104,110.

Mechanical Engineers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$35.60	$73,990
25th percentile	$40.50	$84,130
Median	$50.00	$104,110
75th percentile	$63.80	$132,590
90th percentile	$79.00	$164,340
Average (mean)	$54.60	$113,610
Employment	296,810 people

Key skills

Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Mathematics
Judgment and Decision Making
Science
Operations Analysis

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1New Mexico$157,710
2District of Columbia$133,300
3California$130,900
4Delaware$125,130
5Colorado$124,430
6Alaska$124,340
7Maryland$122,870
8Louisiana$119,540
9Massachusetts$119,300
10Wyoming$117,750
11Rhode Island$116,230
12Texas$112,410

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$168,030
2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$161,370
3Baton Rouge, LA$135,530
4Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$132,920
5Salinas, CA$132,560
6Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC$128,740
7Peoria, IL$128,710
8Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$128,180
9Columbus, IN$127,700
10Lexington Park, MD$127,650
11Ann Arbor, MI$127,310
12Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$126,990

Related job titles

Employers advertise Mechanical Engineers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Mechanical Engineers does

Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
Provide technical customer service.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Mechanical Engineers make?: The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers is $104,110 ($50 per hour). Pay ranges from about $73,990 at the 10th percentile to $164,340 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Mechanical Engineers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $113,610, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Mechanical Engineerss the most?: New Mexico has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $157,710.
Is Mechanical Engineers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 297K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Mechanical Engineers do?: Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.; Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.; Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations..