Mechanical Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Engineering make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Mechanical Engineering in the United States is $57,896 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Mechanical Engineering's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,744
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,670 to $64,621
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,092
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View as table View as graph 25% $50,670 10% $44,092 90% $70,744 75% $64,621 $57,896 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mechanical Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $64,621 $5,385 $1,243 $31
Average $57,896 $4,825 $1,113 $28
25th Percentile $50,670 $4,223 $974 $24
Check out Mechanical Engineering Job Openings in the United States
Sr Associate Engineering Services

L3Harris Technologies - Mason, OH

SR ASSOCIATE ENGINEERING SERVICES

L3Harris Technologies - Mason, OH

Mechanical Engineering Specialist

DEDIENNE AEROSPACE - Springfield, OH

Mechanical Design Engineering Manager

Search Masters, Inc. - Strongsville, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Engineering Salaries

A Mechanical Engineering's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Mechanical Engineering Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Mechanical Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $64,103.
  • California: $63,859.
  • Massachusetts: $63,008.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Engineerings

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $73,024
  • San Francisco: $72,307
  • Oakland: $70,703

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.43% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.92% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.43%
Preventive Maintenance 2.92%
Microsoft Office 1.91%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Mechanical Engineering's salary.
  • Mechanical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Installation: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Mechanical Engineering
 $64,265
11%
Installation
 $59,054
2%
Planning
 $58,475
1%
Schematic
 $58,475
1%
Problem Solving
 $58,475
1%
Troubleshooting
 $57,896
0%
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How Education impacts a Mechanical Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Engineerings enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Mechanical Engineering with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $56,443 and $61,453).

Mechanical Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.7%
High School 23.3%
Associates 44.2%
Bachelors 23.3%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Mechanical Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Engineering's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 18, 2021
$50,670
Average $57,896/year
$64,621
$4,223
Average $4,825/month
$5,385
$974
Average $1,113/week
$1,243
$24
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,621 $5,385 $1,243 $31
Average $57,896 $4,825 $1,113 $28
25th Percentile $50,670 $4,223 $974 $24

Salaries of jobs related to Mechanical Engineering

Salary Trends for Mechanical Engineering

Salaries for a Mechanical Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $57,773 in 2023 to around $57,207 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Mechanical Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$57,773
2024
$57,706
2025
$57,207
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $57,773
2024 $57,706
2025 $57,207
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Mechanical Engineering

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Mechanical Engineering

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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