Mechanical Project Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Project Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Project Engineer in the United States is $84,660 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $99,648
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,361 to $92,505
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,806
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $76,361 10% $68,806 90% $99,648 75% $92,505 $84,660 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mechanical Project Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $92,505 $7,709 $1,779 $44
Average $84,660 $7,055 $1,628 $41
25th Percentile $76,361 $6,363 $1,468 $37
Check out Mechanical Project Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Mechanical Engineer III

National Radio Astronomy Observatory - GREEN BANK, WV

Project Engineer-Structural

Professional Engineering Consultant - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

Project Engineer-Structural

Professional Engineering Consultant - TULSA, OK

Project Engineer-Structural

Professional Engineering Consultant - FORT COLLINS, CO

Search More Mechanical Project Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Project Engineer Salaries

A Mechanical Project Engineer'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 Project Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Project Engineer'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): $84,083
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,732
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,067
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,502
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,180
Levels Salary
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Project Engineer$84,083
Project E... Level Mechanical Project Engineer$95,732
Project E... Level Mechanical Project Engineer$114,067
Project E... Level Mechanical Project Engineer$130,502
Project E... Level Mechanical Project Engineer$153,180
$84,083 0 yr
$95,732 < 2 yrs
$114,067 2-4 yrs
$130,502 5-8 yrs
$153,180 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Project Engineers

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: $106,781
  • San Francisco: $105,731
  • Oakland: $103,386

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Project Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 7.18% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Cost Control (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
  • Project Engineering (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): Project engineering includes all parts of the design of manufacturing or processing facilities, either new or modifications to and expansions of existing facilities. A "project" consists of a coordinated series of activities or tasks performed by engineers, designers, drafters and others from one or more engineering disciplines or departments. Project tasks consist of such things as performing calculations, writing specifications, preparing bids, reviewing equipment proposals and evaluating or selecting equipment and preparing various lists, such as equipment and materials lists, and creating drawings such as electrical, piping and instrumentation diagrams, physical layouts and other drawings used in design and construction. A small project may be under the direction of a project engineer. Large projects are typically under the direction of a project manager or management team. Some facilities have in house staff to handle small projects, while some major companies have a department that does internal project engineering. Large projects are typically contracted out to engineering companies. Staffing at engineering companies varies according to the work load and duration of employment may only last until an individual's tasks are completed.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 7.18%
Cost Control 1.97%
Project Engineering 1.17%
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 Project Engineer's salary.
  • Earned Value Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Land Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Earned Value Management
$89,739
6%
Land Development
$88,893
5%
Consulting
$88,893
5%
Budgeting
$88,893
5%
Civil Engineering
$88,046
4%
AutoCAD
$87,199
3%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Mechanical Project Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Project Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Mechanical Project Engineer with a No Diploma is between $75,964 and $79,944).

Mechanical Project Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Project Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 73.6%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 73.6%
Masters 25.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Mechanical Project Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Project Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Mechanical Project Engineer

Salaries for a Mechanical Project Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $78,700 in 2023 to around $79,008 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Project Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Mechanical Project Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,700
2024
$79,651
2025
$79,008
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,700
2024 $79,651
2025 $79,008
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Mechanical Project Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Mechanical Project Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Project Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Mechanical Project Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Mechanical Project Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst