Licensed Mechanical Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Mechanical Engineer in the United States is $98,401 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,813
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,521 to $106,468
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,704
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View as table View as graph 25% $86,521 10% $75,704 90% $113,813 75% $106,468 $98,401 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Licensed Mechanical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $106,468 $8,872 $2,047 $51
Average $98,401 $8,200 $1,892 $47
25th Percentile $86,521 $7,210 $1,664 $42
Check out Licensed Mechanical Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Mechanical Engineer

NR Consulting - Akron, OH

Mechanical Engineer

Engtal - Mason, OH

Mechanical Design Engineer

Visionaire Partners - Cleveland, OH

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Dizario Search - Madison, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Licensed Mechanical Engineer Salaries

A Licensed Mechanical 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Mechanical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Mechanical 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): $95,596
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,421
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,576
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $99,475
  • Expert (over 8 years): $101,973
Levels Salary
Entry Level Licensed Mechanical Engineer$95,596
Intermediate Level Licensed Mechanical Engineer$96,421
Senior Level Licensed Mechanical Engineer$97,576
Specialist Level Licensed Mechanical Engineer$99,475
Expert Level Licensed Mechanical Engineer$101,973
$95,596 0 yr
$96,421 < 2 yrs
$97,576 2-4 yrs
$99,475 5-8 yrs
$101,973 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Licensed Mechanical Engineer 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 Licensed Mechanical Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $108,949.
  • California: $108,536.
  • Massachusetts: $107,089.

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Mechanical 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: $124,113
  • San Francisco: $122,893
  • Oakland: $120,167

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Accountability (Mentioned in 4.65% Job Postings): Setting and holding oneself and others to stated expectations by associating tasks with our business's mission, values, and goals.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 2.82% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
  • Basic Life Support (Mentioned in 1.73% Job Postings): BLS is a level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care by advanced life support providers. It can be provided by trained medical personnel.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Accountability 4.65%
Nursing Practice 2.82%
Basic Life Support 1.73%
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 Licensed Mechanical Engineer's salary.
  • Employee Engagement: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Instructing: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Employee Engagement
$125,953
28%
Instructing
$118,081
20%
Verbal Communication
$110,209
12%
Staff Development
$108,241
10%
Confidentiality
$105,289
7%
Decision Making
$104,305
6%
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Licensed Mechanical Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Mechanical 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Licensed Mechanical Engineer

Salaries for a Licensed Mechanical Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $124,772 in 2023 to around $124,474 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Licensed Mechanical Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Mechanical Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$124,772
2024
$125,454
2025
$124,474
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $124,772
2024 $125,454
2025 $124,474
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Licensed Mechanical Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Licensed Mechanical Engineer

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

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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.)

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