How Much Does a Mechanical Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$104,110
Mechanical engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $104,110 a year, or $50.05 an hour. Half of mechanical engineers earn more than $104,110 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $164,340.
Pay percentiles for mechanical engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35.57 | $73,990 |
| 25th | $40.45 | $84,130 |
| 50th (median) | $50.05 | $104,110 |
| 75th | $63.75 | $132,590 |
| 90th | $79.01 | $164,340 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 | $75.82 | +51% |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 | $64.09 | +28% |
| California | $130,900 | $62.94 | +26% |
| Delaware | $125,130 | $60.16 | +20% |
| Colorado | $124,430 | $59.82 | +20% |
| Alaska | $124,340 | $59.78 | +19% |
| Maryland | $122,870 | $59.07 | +18% |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | $57.47 | +15% |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | $57.36 | +15% |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | $56.61 | +13% |
| United States | $104,110 | $50.05 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many mechanical engineers are there?
BLS counts about 296,810 mechanical engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in Michigan (34,630), California (30,530) and Texas (22,080).
The mean (average) annual wage is $113,610, higher than the median of $104,110.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,676
- Biweekly
- $4,004
- Weekly
- $2,002
- Daily (8 hours)
- $400
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for mechanical engineers is $50.05. The middle 50% earn between $40.45 and $63.75 an hour.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median wage for mechanical engineers at $157,710, +51% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for mechanical engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of mechanical engineers earn less than $73,990 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.