Home › Salary guides › Mechanical Engineer
Salary guide · BLS, May 2025Mechanical Engineer salary by state
Mechanical engineers in the United States earned a median of $104,000 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $84,000 and $133,000, and 296,810 people held the job.
California pays mechanical engineers the most.
Of the 14 states where we have open searches, California has the highest median at $131,000 and Montana the lowest at $94,000. In Montana, our home state, the median is $94,000. Ranked by median, with the national figure first.
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 296,810 | $84,000 | $104,000 | $133,000 |
| California | 30,530 | $102,000 | $131,000 | $167,000 |
| Texas | 22,080 | $91,000 | $112,000 | $145,000 |
| Washington | 8,240 | $95,000 | $110,000 | $140,000 |
| Michigan | 34,630 | $88,000 | $105,000 | $132,000 |
| Oregon | Not published | $91,000 | $103,000 | $130,000 |
| Illinois | 11,790 | $84,000 | $103,000 | $131,000 |
| North Carolina | 9,560 | $82,000 | $101,000 | $125,000 |
| Georgia | Not published | $80,000 | $101,000 | $128,000 |
| Arizona | Not published | $82,000 | $100,000 | $129,000 |
| Minnesota | 5,890 | $82,000 | $99,000 | $129,000 |
| Ohio | 14,390 | $79,000 | $99,000 | $116,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,550 | $79,000 | $98,000 | $125,000 |
| Wisconsin | 7,470 | $78,000 | $96,000 | $107,000 |
| Montana | 500 | $79,000 | $94,000 | $120,000 |
Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141), a year. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Yearly figures are the hourly figures times 2,080 hours, as BLS reports them.
Our jobs in this group with posted pay.
- View opening →
Powertrain Development Engineer
- View opening →
Simulation Analyst
- View opening →
Design Engineer
Hiring mechanical engineers? Most stalled searches were priced under the market. Applications Engineers: see how we recruit for it, or call 313-MFG-JOBS (313) 634-5627.
Mechanical Engineer pay, answered
How much does a mechanical engineer make?
Mechanical engineers in the United States earned a median of $104,000 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $84,000 and $133,000, and 296,810 people held the job.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
Of the 14 states where we have open searches, California pays the most, a median of $131,000 a year, and Montana the least, $94,000. The national median is $104,000.
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Montana?
A median of $94,000 a year in Montana in May 2025, with the middle half between $79,000 and $120,000, across 500 people in the job.
Where does this data come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025, for the federal wage group Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141). We publish it here at Compass Group Recruiting, next to our own open searches.
Hiring mechanical engineers?
Tell us what you need. We will tell you what it pays and how we would attack it.