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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
278,240 1.0 % $ 46.64 $ 97,000 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 29.21 $ 36.56 $ 45.82 $ 57.78 $ 65.49
Annual Wage (2) $ 60,750 $ 76,050 $ 95,300 $ 120,180 $ 136,210


Industry profile for Mechanical Engineers:

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 59,940 3.97 $ 48.46 $ 100,800
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 27,960 3.99 $ 42.13 $ 87,640
Scientific Research and Development Services 14,190 1.78 $ 54.78 $ 113,930
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 13,920 0.66 $ 49.87 $ 103,720
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 13,610 2.90 $ 52.48 $ 109,160

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 4,800 5.41 $ 49.03 $ 101,970
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 27,960 3.99 $ 42.13 $ 87,640
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 59,940 3.97 $ 48.46 $ 100,800
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing 740 3.73 $ 42.90 $ 89,240
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,430 3.39 $ 39.19 $ 81,510

Top paying industries for Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 50 0.43 $ 75.58 $ 157,210
Other Pipeline Transportation 40 0.45 $ 74.01 $ 153,940
Oil and Gas Extraction 300 0.28 $ 63.11 $ 131,280
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 610 0.59 $ 60.23 $ 125,280
Land Subdivision (8) (8) $ 60.03 $ 124,860


Geographic profile for Mechanical Engineers:

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.



Map of employment of mechanical engineers by state, May 2021


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 32,520 8.01 4.06 $ 44.04 $ 91,610
California 28,450 1.72 0.87 $ 54.39 $ 113,130
Texas 20,840 1.70 0.86 $ 53.52 $ 111,330
Pennsylvania 17,420 3.12 1.58 $ 44.00 $ 91,520
Ohio 13,650 2.62 1.33 $ 41.82 $ 86,980


Map of location quotient of mechanical engineers by state, May 2021


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 32,520 8.01 4.06 $ 44.04 $ 91,610
Wisconsin 9,610 3.49 1.77 $ 41.49 $ 86,290
Iowa 5,100 3.44 1.74 $ 43.25 $ 89,950
New Hampshire 2,100 3.31 1.68 $ 47.18 $ 98,140
Pennsylvania 17,420 3.12 1.58 $ 44.00 $ 91,520


Map of annual mean wages of mechanical engineers by state, May 2021


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 1,620 2.08 1.05 $ 57.71 $ 120,040
Louisiana 1,040 0.58 0.29 $ 57.40 $ 119,380
District of Columbia 680 1.03 0.52 $ 54.73 $ 113,840
California 28,450 1.72 0.87 $ 54.39 $ 113,130
Alaska 330 1.11 0.56 $ 53.77 $ 111,850



Map of employment of mechanical engineers by area, May 2021


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 21,920 12.17 6.16 $ 45.54 $ 94,720
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,850 1.72 0.87 $ 52.13 $ 108,430
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 8,480 2.93 1.48 $ 60.56 $ 125,970
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 7,290 1.72 0.87 $ 46.10 $ 95,890
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 6,870 0.79 0.40 $ 47.90 $ 99,640
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,800 2.63 1.33 $ 53.10 $ 110,450
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,510 2.45 1.24 $ 47.29 $ 98,360
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,680 1.58 0.80 $ 49.98 $ 103,960
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,330 1.82 0.92 $ 56.35 $ 117,200
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 5,000 2.61 1.32 $ 50.33 $ 104,690


Map of location quotient of mechanical engineers by area, May 2021


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)
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 1,380 16.39 8.30 $ 47.61 $ 99,030
California-Lexington Park, MD 690 14.78 7.48 $ 49.52 $ 103,010
Dubuque, IA 740 13.11 6.64 $ 45.06 $ 93,730
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 21,920 12.17 6.16 $ 45.54 $ 94,720
Huntsville, AL 2,040 8.86 4.48 $ 51.43 $ 106,980
Peoria, IL 1,380 8.82 4.46 $ 55.14 $ 114,680
New Bern, NC 350 8.15 4.12 $ 38.92 $ 80,960
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 660 7.62 3.86 $ 45.06 $ 93,710
Ann Arbor, MI 1,370 6.82 3.45 $ 44.14 $ 91,820
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 1,420 6.42 3.25 $ 46.57 $ 96,870