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Occupational Employment Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

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 this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
306,990 1.3 % $44.97 $93,540 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $27.47 $33.79 $42.51 $53.84 $66.36
Annual Wage (2) $57,130 $70,280 $88,430 $111,980 $138,020

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

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

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 63,120 4.21 $46.85 $97,460
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 29,880 3.97 $41.16 $85,620
Scientific Research and Development Services 17,250 2.44 $50.64 $105,340
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 15,210 2.92 $50.08 $104,160
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 13,180 0.66 $47.58 $98,960

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 6,040 6.19 $44.09 $91,700
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 63,120 4.21 $46.85 $97,460
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 1,390 4.05 $42.17 $87,720
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 29,880 3.97 $41.16 $85,620
Household Appliance Manufacturing 2,160 3.60 $41.51 $86,330

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Waste Treatment and Disposal 290 0.29 $59.19 $123,100
Oil and Gas Extraction 470 0.34 $59.05 $122,830
Insurance Carriers 90 0.01 $54.25 $112,850
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (8) (8) $54.09 $112,500
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 860 0.76 $53.32 $110,900

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

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





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 43,850 10.09 4.83 $44.64 $92,850
California 27,830 1.60 0.77 $51.88 $107,920
Texas 22,020 1.77 0.85 $49.51 $102,980
Pennsylvania 16,930 2.87 1.37 $40.91 $85,100
Ohio 15,300 2.81 1.34 $39.80 $82,780




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 43,850 10.09 4.83 $44.64 $92,850
Wisconsin 12,090 4.21 2.02 $38.77 $80,650
New Hampshire 2,660 4.02 1.92 $46.90 $97,560
Pennsylvania 16,930 2.87 1.37 $40.91 $85,100
Ohio 15,300 2.81 1.34 $39.80 $82,780




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Mexico 1,250 1.52 0.73 $55.01 $114,420
District of Columbia 580 0.80 0.38 $53.96 $112,240
Maryland 5,800 2.15 1.03 $52.79 $109,800
California 27,830 1.60 0.77 $51.88 $107,920
Alaska 500 1.57 0.75 $49.69 $103,360





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 30,840 15.57 7.45 $46.76 $97,260
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 10,070 2.15 1.03 $43.72 $90,940
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,570 1.53 0.73 $50.79 $105,640
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 9,120 3.26 1.56 $49.40 $102,740
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 8,760 2.87 1.37 $51.83 $107,800
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 8,370 0.87 0.41 $47.44 $98,670
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,420 2.23 1.07 $44.27 $92,090
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,030 1.65 0.79 $50.58 $105,200
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 5,920 3.00 1.44 $43.11 $89,660
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,310 1.67 0.80 $56.83 $118,200