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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

17-2141 Mechanical Engineers

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.

National estimates for Mechanical Engineers
Industry profile for Mechanical Engineers
Geographic profile for Mechanical Engineers

National estimates for Mechanical Engineers: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
293,960 1.4 % $ 45.94 $ 95,560 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 28.08 $ 34.56 $ 43.35 $ 54.99 $ 67.82
Annual Wage (2) $ 58,410 $ 71,880 $ 90,160 $ 114,380 $ 141,060

Industry profile for Mechanical Engineers: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Mechanical Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Mechanical Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 63,150 4.20 $ 47.62 $ 99,050
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 28,200 3.92 $ 41.65 $ 86,630
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 16,220 3.09 $ 50.34 $ 104,710
Scientific Research and Development Services 15,710 2.09 $ 51.89 $ 107,930
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 13,610 0.65 $ 49.54 $ 103,050

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 6,290 6.83 $ 45.17 $ 93,950
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 63,150 4.20 $ 47.62 $ 99,050
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 28,200 3.92 $ 41.65 $ 86,630
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 6,080 3.64 $ 38.03 $ 79,100
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 1,040 3.22 $ 41.45 $ 86,210

Top paying industries for Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Pipeline Transportation 30 0.37 $ 61.14 $ 127,170
Waste Treatment and Disposal 290 0.30 $ 58.84 $ 122,400
Oil and Gas Extraction 330 0.27 $ 56.25 $ 117,000
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 820 0.76 $ 55.51 $ 115,470
Insurance Carriers 120 0.01 $ 54.88 $ 114,160

Geographic profile for Mechanical Engineers: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Mechanical Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Mechanical Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Mechanical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 40,340 10.28 4.86 $ 45.33 $ 94,280
California 28,130 1.71 0.81 $ 52.92 $ 110,070
Texas 21,970 1.82 0.86 $ 49.36 $ 102,660
Pennsylvania 15,740 2.86 1.35 $ 42.46 $ 88,310
Ohio 14,090 2.74 1.30 $ 40.92 $ 85,100




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Mechanical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 40,340 10.28 4.86 $ 45.33 $ 94,280
New Hampshire 2,510 4.05 1.92 $ 45.32 $ 94,270
Wisconsin 10,520 3.88 1.84 $ 39.21 $ 81,550
Connecticut 5,370 3.49 1.65 $ 48.00 $ 99,840
South Carolina 6,060 3.01 1.42 $ 42.67 $ 88,740




Top paying states for Mechanical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Mexico 1,300 1.66 0.78 $ 56.34 $ 117,180
District of Columbia 560 0.81 0.39 $ 55.70 $ 115,860
Maryland 5,520 2.19 1.04 $ 53.89 $ 112,090
California 28,130 1.71 0.81 $ 52.92 $ 110,070
Louisiana 1,890 1.05 0.50 $ 51.00 $ 106,090





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Mechanical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 27,810 15.63 7.40 $ 47.24 $ 98,260
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,030 1.72 0.82 $ 51.97 $ 108,100
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 8,920 2.05 0.97 $ 44.56 $ 92,680
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 8,570 0.97 0.46 $ 49.50 $ 102,970
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 8,380 2.82 1.34 $ 51.27 $ 106,640
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 8,190 3.15 1.49 $ 51.08 $ 106,250
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,600 1.84 0.87 $ 50.52 $ 105,090
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,250 2.32 1.10 $ 45.58 $ 94,820
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 5,800 3.14 1.49 $ 44.06 $ 91,650
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,150 1.70 0.81 $ 56.52 $ 117,570




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Mechanical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California-Lexington Park, MD 750 16.60 7.86 $ 50.46 $ 104,950
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 27,810 15.63 7.40 $ 47.24 $ 98,260
Ann Arbor, MI 2,520 12.10 5.73 $ 48.10 $ 100,050
Jackson, MI 490 10.56 5.00 $ 40.62 $ 84,500
Dubuque, IA 530 9.47 4.48 (8) (8)
Monroe, MI 330 9.47 4.48 $ 42.96 $ 89,350
New Bern, NC 380 9.16 4.33 $ 40.00 $ 83,210
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 660 7.67 3.63 $ 44.35 $ 92,240
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 350 7.54 3.57 $ 45.40 $ 94,430
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 3,700 7.16 3.39 $ 38.64 $ 80,380