Infographic: Where MEs Work and How Much They Earn

How much mechanical engineers earn depends on their industry, education, experience, and responsibilities. Where they work also plays a part in their compensation.

Date Published:

Aug 6, 2024

Author:

Cathy Cecere

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean wage across all mechanical engineers was $105,220. Those MEs in the 90th percentile of earners, however, brought in an average of $157,470, reported the BLS.

MEs work across a wide range of industries, but one segment with one of the highest levels of employment is professional services firms. According to the BLS, almost 4 percent of the employees of these architectural and engineering firms are MEs. That are almost 59,000 engineers with an annual mean wage of nearly $105,000.

Where in the country an ME works is also a great indicator of how much an ME will earn. MEs
in New Mexico may earn the most in the nation on average ($129,000), but right behind them are engineers in California and Massachusetts. The annual mean wage for the Sunshine
State is almost $127,000, and MEs who work in the Commonwealth can expect an average of $116,000.