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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

17-2141 Mechanical Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.


National estimates for Mechanical Engineers
Industry profile for Mechanical Engineers
Geographic profile for Mechanical Engineers

National estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
277,560 0.8 % $ 48.47 $ 100,820 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for Mechanical Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 29.80 $ 37.01 $ 46.31 $ 58.98 $ 72.72
Annual Wage (2) $ 61,990 $ 76,980 $ 96,310 $ 122,680 $ 151,260


Industry profile for Mechanical Engineers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Mechanical Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Mechanical Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 55,120 3.47 $ 49.18 $ 102,290
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 29,720 3.97 $ 43.24 $ 89,940
Scientific Research and Development Services 22,440 2.58 $ 60.67 $ 126,200
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 13,660 0.66 $ 51.66 $ 107,450
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 11,930 2.88 $ 50.92 $ 105,920

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 4,250 4.78 $ 49.52 $ 103,000
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 29,720 3.97 $ 43.24 $ 89,940
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,750 3.55 $ 39.94 $ 83,080
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 55,120 3.47 $ 49.18 $ 102,290
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 11,930 2.88 $ 50.92 $ 105,920

Top paying industries for Mechanical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (8) (8) (5) (5)
Oil and Gas Extraction 390 0.38 $ 77.57 $ 161,340
Other Pipeline Transportation 40 0.44 $ 70.70 $ 147,060
Natural Gas Distribution 680 0.62 $ 66.91 $ 139,170
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 860 0.83 $ 62.06 $ 129,080


Geographic profile for Mechanical Engineers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Mechanical Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Mechanical Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of mechanical engineers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Mechanical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 31,950 7.52 4.01 $ 45.91 $ 95,480
California 28,100 1.59 0.85 $ 56.83 $ 118,200
Pennsylvania 21,870 3.76 2.00 $ 52.62 $ 109,460
Texas 18,280 1.41 0.75 $ 51.59 $ 107,310
Ohio 15,480 2.88 1.53 $ 44.02 $ 91,560


Map of location quotient of mechanical engineers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Mechanical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 31,950 7.52 4.01 $ 45.91 $ 95,480
Pennsylvania 21,870 3.76 2.00 $ 52.62 $ 109,460
New Hampshire 2,380 3.61 1.92 $ 48.14 $ 100,130
Wisconsin 9,170 3.26 1.73 $ 42.27 $ 87,920
Iowa 4,570 3.00 1.60 $ 44.50 $ 92,560


Map of annual mean wages of mechanical engineers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Mechanical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Mexico 1,680 2.06 1.10 $ 60.62 $ 126,080
District of Columbia 550 0.80 0.43 $ 58.98 $ 122,670
Louisiana 1,450 0.78 0.42 $ 56.85 $ 118,250
California 28,100 1.59 0.85 $ 56.83 $ 118,200
Alaska 230 0.75 0.40 $ 55.43 $ 115,300



Map of employment of mechanical engineers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Mechanical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 20,560 11.01 5.87 $ 47.39 $ 98,570
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 8,530 3.08 1.64 $ 57.22 $ 119,010
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,470 1.39 0.74 $ 54.50 $ 113,360
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 8,340 1.89 1.01 $ 48.44 $ 100,750
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 7,030 0.77 0.41 $ 51.65 $ 107,420
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 6,840 2.24 1.19 $ 55.91 $ 116,290
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,570 2.43 1.29 $ 52.49 $ 109,170
Pittsburgh, PA 5,470 5.17 2.76 $ 56.73 $ 117,990
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 5,250 2.58 1.37 $ 53.24 $ 110,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 5,130 2.15 1.14 $ 66.12 $ 137,530


Map of location quotient of mechanical engineers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Mechanical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 1,240 14.68 7.82 $ 49.54 $ 103,050
California-Lexington Park, MD 690 14.58 7.77 $ 51.35 $ 106,800
Columbus, IN 660 13.48 7.18 $ 52.52 $ 109,250
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 20,560 11.01 5.87 $ 47.39 $ 98,570
Dubuque, IA 610 10.55 5.62 $ 45.93 $ 95,540
Ann Arbor, MI 1,840 8.70 4.64 $ 47.80 $ 99,420
New Bern, NC 380 8.51 4.53 $ 40.11 $ 83,440
Huntsville, AL 1,990 8.33 4.44 $ 52.61 $ 109,430
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 620 6.80 3.62 $ 46.93 $ 97,610
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 330 6.78 3.61 $ 48.13 $ 100,100


Map of annual mean wages of mechanical engineers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Mechanical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 3,730 3.32 1.77 $ 67.67 $ 140,750
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 5,130 2.15 1.14 $ 66.12 $ 137,530
Baton Rouge, LA 360 0.92 0.49 $ 63.90 $ 132,920
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 640 1.23 0.65 $ 62.34 $ 129,670
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 160 1.63 0.87 $ 58.13 $ 120,900
Tyler, TX 220 2.08 1.11 $ 57.48 $ 119,550
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 8,530 3.08 1.64 $ 57.22 $ 119,010
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,430 1.46 0.78 $ 56.98 $ 118,510
Pittsburgh, PA 5,470 5.17 2.76 $ 56.73 $ 117,990
Santa Rosa, CA 200 0.98 0.52 $ 56.49 $ 117,490

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Mechanical Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 1,130 4.30 2.29 $ 41.13 $ 85,540
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,080 4.41 2.35 $ 39.81 $ 82,790
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 970 3.00 1.60 $ 41.24 $ 85,790
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 850 4.62 2.46 $ 43.70 $ 90,900
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 740 3.52 1.88 $ 41.37 $ 86,050

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Mechanical Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 410 8.37 4.46 $ 54.08 $ 112,490
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 470 4.78 2.54 $ 46.47 $ 96,660
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 850 4.62 2.46 $ 43.70 $ 90,900
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,080 4.41 2.35 $ 39.81 $ 82,790
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 1,130 4.30 2.29 $ 41.13 $ 85,540

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Mechanical Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 40 0.44 0.23 $ 61.02 $ 126,930
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 110 1.35 0.72 $ 56.04 $ 116,570
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 410 8.37 4.46 $ 54.08 $ 112,490
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 220 1.11 0.59 $ 50.94 $ 105,960
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 140 1.47 0.78 $ 50.79 $ 105,640


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023