Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Mechanical engineers (SOC 17-2141) employed 296,810 people in May 2025. The median pay is $104,110 a year ($50.05 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,990 and the highest-paid 10% more than $164,340. BLS projects its employment to change by +11.2% between 2025 and 2035 (about 17,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: New Mexico ($157,710), District of Columbia ($133,300), California ($130,900). Most jobs: Michigan (34,630), California (30,530), Texas (22,080).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,990 | $35.57 |
| 25th percentile | $84,130 | $40.45 |
| Median | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Mean | $113,610 | $54.62 |
| 75th percentile | $132,590 | $63.75 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $164,340 | $79.01 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 298,500 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 332,000 |
| Change in jobs | 33,500 |
| Percent change | +11.2% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 17,800 |
| Self-employed share | 0.5% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 380 | 0.61 | $124,340 | $76,890 | $174,320 | +19% | 14% |
| Arizona | 5,050 | 0.82 | $100,270 | $71,030 | $159,040 | -4% | 20% |
| Arkansas | 1,410 | 0.56 | $80,180 | $57,650 | $131,840 | -23% | 15% |
| California | 30,530 | 0.88 | $130,900 | $82,070 | $203,620 | +26% | 19% |
| Colorado | 7,190 | 1.31 | $124,430 | $75,100 | $170,810 | +20% | 18% |
| Connecticut | 4,600 | 1.42 | $105,090 | $77,340 | $157,980 | +1% | 18% |
| Delaware | 610 | 0.66 | $125,130 | $65,890 | $168,180 | +20% | 15% |
| District of Columbia | 510 | 0.38 | $133,300 | $86,820 | $195,190 | +28% | 17% |
| Florida | 10,740 | 0.57 | $99,980 | $66,260 | $153,950 | -4% | 22% |
| Georgia | 5,290 | 0.57 | $100,620 | $71,940 | $156,320 | -3% | 18% |
| Hawaii | 530 | 0.44 | $98,740 | $66,110 | $141,500 | -5% | 24% |
| Idaho | 1,070 | 0.65 | $93,190 | $63,660 | $141,020 | -10% | 18% |
| Illinois | 11,790 | 1.01 | $102,680 | $72,150 | $160,160 | -1% | 15% |
| Indiana | 8,690 | 1.42 | $99,590 | $66,330 | $143,090 | -4% | 13% |
| Iowa | 3,470 | 1.17 | $97,700 | $71,050 | $137,540 | -6% | 12% |
| Kansas | 4,630 | 1.69 | $86,260 | $72,210 | $131,660 | -17% | 15% |
| Kentucky | 4,170 | 1.09 | $101,050 | $65,370 | $139,810 | -3% | 12% |
| Louisiana | 1,890 | 0.51 | $119,540 | $70,350 | $181,550 | +15% | 11% |
| Maine | 890 | 0.72 | $102,430 | $78,440 | $137,280 | -2% | 14% |
| Maryland | 6,550 | 1.24 | $122,870 | $79,670 | $176,680 | +18% | 17% |
| Massachusetts | 7,680 | 1.11 | $119,300 | $79,570 | $166,480 | +15% | 19% |
| Michigan | 34,630 | 4.12 | $104,890 | $76,310 | $159,840 | +1% | 13% |
| Minnesota | 5,890 | 1.05 | $99,140 | $75,870 | $151,580 | -5% | 16% |
| Mississippi | 1,570 | 0.71 | $98,000 | $62,210 | $136,990 | -6% | 12% |
| Missouri | 4,870 | 0.87 | $99,330 | $64,750 | $142,100 | -5% | 13% |
| Montana | 500 | 0.51 | $94,190 | $65,820 | $133,270 | -10% | 15% |
| Nebraska | 950 | 0.49 | $88,060 | $61,860 | $136,870 | -15% | 15% |
| Nevada | 1,410 | 0.48 | $102,680 | $75,960 | $160,210 | -1% | 20% |
| New Hampshire | 2,760 | 2.12 | $103,660 | $72,740 | $165,500 | -0% | 18% |
| New Jersey | 4,180 | 0.51 | $112,300 | $79,160 | $162,800 | +8% | 19% |
| New Mexico | 2,710 | 1.63 | $157,710 | $103,780 | $203,140 | +51% | 8% |
| New York | 8,590 | 0.46 | $102,440 | $74,990 | $160,220 | -2% | 19% |
| North Carolina | 9,560 | 1.01 | $100,720 | $71,260 | $155,550 | -3% | 16% |
| North Dakota | 790 | 0.96 | $86,330 | $63,930 | $136,060 | -17% | 14% |
| Ohio | 14,390 | 1.36 | $99,100 | $69,160 | $138,020 | -5% | 13% |
| Oklahoma | 2,270 | 0.70 | $101,850 | $70,070 | $136,110 | -2% | 12% |
| Oregon | 2,920 | 0.78 | $103,470 | $78,100 | $162,550 | -1% | 19% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,550 | 1.17 | $97,920 | $65,770 | $150,950 | -6% | 15% |
| Rhode Island | 1,560 | 1.63 | $116,230 | $79,000 | $195,190 | +12% | 15% |
| South Carolina | 5,780 | 1.31 | $104,580 | $74,260 | $166,340 | +0% | 15% |
| South Dakota | 560 | 0.64 | $88,380 | $65,130 | $134,140 | -15% | 14% |
| Tennessee | 3,930 | 0.63 | $99,550 | $64,150 | $156,150 | -4% | 15% |
| Texas | 22,080 | 0.82 | $112,410 | $75,810 | $175,210 | +8% | 16% |
| Utah | 3,370 | 1.02 | $102,500 | $73,070 | $160,640 | -2% | 19% |
| Vermont | 530 | 0.92 | $107,330 | $83,820 | $150,380 | +3% | 15% |
| Virginia | 7,470 | 0.95 | $104,180 | $77,840 | $160,770 | +0% | 19% |
| Washington | 8,240 | 1.22 | $110,430 | $79,400 | $167,680 | +6% | 20% |
| West Virginia | 760 | 0.57 | $97,390 | $64,640 | $143,030 | -6% | 11% |
| Wisconsin | 7,470 | 1.33 | $95,870 | $64,850 | $130,360 | -8% | 14% |
| Wyoming | 230 | 0.44 | $117,750 | $71,730 | $151,810 | +13% | 10% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 5,540 | $168,030 | $105,400 | $217,530 | 2.56 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,150 | $161,370 | $102,710 | $212,380 | 1.14 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 540 | $135,530 | $76,690 | $195,960 | 0.69 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 980 | $128,740 | $81,940 | $193,050 | 2.21 |
| Peoria, IL | 2,120 | $128,710 | $99,880 | $166,620 | 6.70 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,530 | $128,180 | $74,880 | $168,850 | 1.47 |
| Columbus, IN | 1,000 | $127,700 | $86,480 | $162,370 | 10.52 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 670 | $127,650 | $87,170 | $169,740 | 4.97 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 2,280 | $127,310 | $76,710 | $160,540 | 5.43 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,390 | $126,990 | $85,760 | $195,190 | 0.90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,500 | $126,590 | $81,730 | $172,490 | 1.13 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 650 | $125,780 | $77,630 | $157,980 | 0.84 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,310 | $125,350 | $79,470 | $198,730 | 1.32 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 570 | $124,780 | $81,940 | $175,720 | 2.30 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,130 | $124,360 | $79,480 | $196,790 | 3.08 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,780 | $123,900 | $77,040 | $173,340 | 0.73 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 470 | $122,280 | $77,030 | $191,580 | 1.52 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,370 | $121,750 | $81,460 | $172,760 | 1.15 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 390 | $121,130 | $84,480 | $172,080 | 1.02 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,480 | $120,970 | $82,990 | $170,600 | 0.72 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 560 | $119,790 | $78,490 | $171,540 | 0.87 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,890 | $119,300 | $80,280 | $166,900 | 1.33 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 530 | $117,990 | $75,340 | $170,810 | 0.63 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 950 | $117,380 | $81,190 | $162,200 | 1.53 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 3,050 | $116,700 | $76,900 | $174,920 | 1.18 |
| Decatur, AL | 310 | $115,750 | $78,560 | $159,990 | 2.69 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,750 | $111,360 | $77,600 | $180,710 | 1.29 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 940 | $110,820 | $76,970 | $154,890 | 1.26 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 390 | $110,200 | $85,240 | $144,010 | 1.71 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,960 | $109,990 | $79,520 | $165,010 | 0.38 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 750 | $109,550 | $77,830 | $146,080 | 4.21 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1,260 | $109,540 | $78,710 | $137,040 | 1.80 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 22,500 | $109,470 | $79,880 | $161,030 | 6.19 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 500 | $109,370 | $76,700 | $164,820 | 0.83 |
| Worcester, MA | 660 | $109,250 | $74,550 | $163,930 | 0.98 |
| Asheville, NC | 330 | $108,630 | $77,510 | $217,230 | 0.95 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 1,080 | $108,360 | $76,600 | $167,350 | 2.84 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 930 | $108,310 | $76,270 | $165,360 | 1.08 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 640 | $107,600 | $76,420 | $162,280 | 0.29 |
| Tulsa, OK | 1,060 | $107,440 | $70,710 | $140,510 | 1.21 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 630 | $107,060 | $79,600 | $136,160 | 1.15 |
| Erie, PA | 590 | $106,890 | $63,750 | $174,830 | 2.58 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,790 | $106,690 | $68,080 | $173,210 | 0.72 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 510 | $106,660 | $75,880 | $157,030 | 1.00 |
| Niles, MI | 550 | $106,320 | $76,750 | $135,590 | 4.84 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,690 | $105,980 | $77,150 | $160,770 | 1.47 |
| Mobile, AL | 510 | $105,670 | $74,680 | $168,840 | 1.54 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,600 | $105,420 | $76,530 | $167,140 | 0.73 |
| Kokomo, IN | 300 | $105,410 | $81,960 | $157,670 | 4.47 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,520 | $105,020 | $78,210 | $165,040 | 1.09 |
| Syracuse, NY | 620 | $105,020 | $77,140 | $156,890 | 1.08 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 520 | $104,990 | $76,250 | $136,160 | 1.64 |
| New Haven, CT | 530 | $104,950 | $76,970 | $159,950 | 0.98 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,420 | $104,910 | $66,390 | $157,640 | 0.43 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 340 | $104,840 | $76,370 | $148,500 | 1.65 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,480 | $104,620 | $74,340 | $159,670 | 0.69 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,850 | $104,410 | $75,160 | $157,920 | 0.88 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 930 | $104,320 | $78,230 | $136,240 | 2.71 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3,310 | $104,220 | $76,290 | $168,520 | 1.57 |
| Richmond, VA | 640 | $104,130 | $73,990 | $139,800 | 0.51 |
The median is $104,110 a year ($50.05 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $73,990 and the highest-paid tenth over $164,340 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
296,810 in May 2025, and BLS projects +11.2% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
New Mexico, with a median of $157,710 (among states with published figures).