Mechanical Eng Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Eng make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Eng in the United States is $108,593 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, a Mechanical Eng's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,246
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $100,488 to $116,263
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,109
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View as table View as graph 25% $100,488 10% $93,109 90% $123,246 75% $116,263 $108,593 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mechanical Eng Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $116,263 $9,689 $2,236 $56
Average $108,593 $9,049 $2,088 $52
25th Percentile $100,488 $8,374 $1,932 $48
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Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Eng Salaries

A Mechanical Eng's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Mechanical Eng Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Eng's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $80,924
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,424
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,281
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $131,407
  • Expert (over 8 years): $151,214
Levels Salary
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Eng$80,924
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Eng$95,424
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Eng$110,281
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Eng$131,407
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Eng$151,214
$80,924 0 yr
$95,424 < 2 yrs
$110,281 2-4 yrs
$131,407 5-8 yrs
$151,214 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Mechanical Eng Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Mechanical Engs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $120,234.
  • California: $119,778.
  • Massachusetts: $118,182.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Engs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $136,968
  • San Francisco: $135,469
  • Oakland: $132,614

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Eng's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 2.54% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 1.84% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9%
Design Engineering 2.54%
AutoCAD 1.84%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Mechanical Eng's salary.
  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping
 $112,937
4%
Computer Vision
 $112,937
4%
Salesforce
 $111,851
3%
Algorithms
 $111,851
3%
Artificial Intelligence
 $111,851
3%
Machine Learning
 $111,851
3%
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