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Mechanical Design Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Design Engineering make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Design Engineering in the United States is $55,338 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,718
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,553 to $62,865
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,106
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Design Engineering Salaries

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

How Do Mechanical Design Engineering 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 Design Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $61,271.
  • California: $61,038.
  • Massachusetts: $60,225.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Design Engineerings

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: $69,798
  • San Francisco: $69,034
  • Oakland: $67,579

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Design Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.85% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.93% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.85%
Microsoft Office 2.93%
Installation 1.79%
See More Skills

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 Design Engineering's salary.

  • Mechanical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Design Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Mechanical Engineering $59,212
7%
Presentation $58,659
6%
Design Engineering $58,659
6%
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Mechanical Design Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mechanical Design Engineering roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Media sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Mechanical Design Engineering positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mechanical Design Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mechanical Design Engineering

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$66,406$32.020%
Media$63,639$31.015%
Aerospace & Defense$61,979$30.012%
Energy & Utilities$60,872$29.010%
MFG Nondurable$59,765$29.08%

How Education impacts a Mechanical Design Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Design Engineerings enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Design Engineering with a Associate's Degree is between $50,726 and $55,509).

Mechanical Design Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Design Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 6.1%
Associates 54.2%
Bachelors 31.3%
Masters 7.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Mechanical Design Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Design Engineering'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 October 01, 2026
$51,553
Average $55,338/year
$62,865
$4,296
Average $4,612/month
$5,239
$991
Average $1,064/week
$1,209
$25
Average $27/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,865 $5,239 $1,209 $30
Average $55,338 $4,612 $1,064 $27
25th Percentile $51,553 $4,296 $991 $25

Most common benefits for Mechanical Design Engineering

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

Common company salaries for Mechanical Design Engineering

Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Design Engineering and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Mechanical Design Engineering

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Mechanical Design Engineering?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Mechanical Design Engineering roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.

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