Mechanical Engineers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for mechanical engineers is $104,110, or $50.05 per hour. About 296,810 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $157,710 in New Mexico to $80,180 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $157,710 | $75.82 | 2,710 | 1.63 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $133,300 | $64.09 | 510 | 0.38 |
| 3 | California | $130,900 | $62.94 | 30,530 | 0.88 |
| 4 | Delaware | $125,130 | $60.16 | 610 | 0.66 |
| 5 | Colorado | $124,430 | $59.82 | 7,190 | 1.31 |
| 6 | Alaska | $124,340 | $59.78 | 380 | 0.61 |
| 7 | Maryland | $122,870 | $59.07 | 6,550 | 1.24 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $119,540 | $57.47 | 1,890 | 0.51 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $119,300 | $57.36 | 7,680 | 1.11 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $117,750 | $56.61 | 230 | 0.44 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $116,230 | $55.88 | 1,560 | 1.63 |
| 12 | Texas | $112,410 | $54.05 | 22,080 | 0.82 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $112,300 | $53.99 | 4,180 | 0.51 |
| 14 | Washington | $110,430 | $53.09 | 8,240 | 1.22 |
| 15 | Vermont | $107,330 | $51.60 | 530 | 0.92 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $105,090 | $50.52 | 4,600 | 1.42 |
| 17 | Michigan | $104,890 | $50.43 | 34,630 | 4.12 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $104,580 | $50.28 | 5,780 | 1.31 |
| 19 | Virginia | $104,180 | $50.09 | 7,470 | 0.95 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $103,660 | $49.84 | 2,760 | 2.12 |
| 21 | Oregon | $103,470 | $49.74 | 2,920 | 0.78 |
| 22 | Nevada | $102,680 | $49.37 | 1,410 | 0.48 |
| 23 | Illinois | $102,680 | $49.37 | 11,790 | 1.01 |
| 24 | Utah | $102,500 | $49.28 | 3,370 | 1.02 |
| 25 | New York | $102,440 | $49.25 | 8,590 | 0.46 |
| 26 | Maine | $102,430 | $49.25 | 890 | 0.72 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $101,850 | $48.97 | 2,270 | 0.70 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $101,050 | $48.58 | 4,170 | 1.09 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $100,720 | $48.42 | 9,560 | 1.01 |
| 30 | Georgia | $100,620 | $48.37 | 5,290 | 0.57 |
| 31 | Arizona | $100,270 | $48.21 | 5,050 | 0.82 |
| 32 | Alabama | $100,230 | $48.19 | — | — |
| 33 | Florida | $99,980 | $48.07 | 10,740 | 0.57 |
| 34 | Indiana | $99,590 | $47.88 | 8,690 | 1.42 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $99,550 | $47.86 | 3,930 | 0.63 |
| 36 | Missouri | $99,330 | $47.75 | 4,870 | 0.87 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $99,140 | $47.66 | 5,890 | 1.05 |
| 38 | Ohio | $99,100 | $47.64 | 14,390 | 1.36 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $98,740 | $47.47 | 530 | 0.44 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $98,000 | $47.12 | 1,570 | 0.71 |
| 41 | Pennsylvania | $97,920 | $47.08 | 13,550 | 1.17 |
| 42 | Iowa | $97,700 | $46.97 | 3,470 | 1.17 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $97,390 | $46.82 | 760 | 0.57 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $95,870 | $46.09 | 7,470 | 1.33 |
| 45 | Montana | $94,190 | $45.28 | 500 | 0.51 |
| 46 | Idaho | $93,190 | $44.80 | 1,070 | 0.65 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $88,380 | $42.49 | 560 | 0.64 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $88,060 | $42.34 | 950 | 0.49 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $86,330 | $41.51 | 790 | 0.96 |
| 50 | Kansas | $86,260 | $41.47 | 4,630 | 1.69 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $80,180 | $38.55 | 1,410 | 0.56 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineers make?
The median annual wage for mechanical engineers in the United States is $104,110, or $50.05 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $73,990, and the top 10% earn $164,340.
How many mechanical engineers are employed in the U.S.?
About 296,810 people work as mechanical engineers nationwide.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
New Mexico pays the most at a median of $157,710, followed by District of Columbia ($133,300) and California ($130,900).
Which state pays mechanical engineers the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $80,180.
Where are mechanical engineers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Michigan at 4.12×.