Demand and Salaries Grow for Mechanical Engineers

Currently more than 293,000 mechanical engineers are working in the U.S., according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And this number is supposed to increase by 26,500 jobs during the next decade. “Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations,” the BLS reported.

According to the BLS, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers was a bit more than $102,000—the most recent salary data. These wages are slightly behind engineers overall ($106,070), but well above the national average of all occupations ($49,500).
 

Employers and salary

While half the mechanical engineers working in the U.S. earned more and half earned less—the median wage was $102,320 in May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $68,740, according to the BLS. While the highest 10 percent earned more than $161,240.

Among the top five employers in the U.S., about 30 percent work in manufacturing: 14 percent work in the machinery manufacturing sector, 10 percent work within transportation equipment manufacturing, and another 6 percent work in computer and electronic product manufacturing. 

The lowest median annual wage among these sectors within manufacturing is machinery manufacturing where the median salary is $96,690. Those in transportation equipment manufacturing earn a bit more with a median salary at $103,210. And MEs in Computer and electronic products manufacturing make the highest median salary at $107,890.

The architecture, engineering, and related industry employs 20 percent of mechanical engineers. According to the BLS, the median annual salary for the mechanical engineers in this group is $102,990. Finally, 6 percent of mechanical engineers work with the scientific research and development service sector. These professionals earn the highest median wage of the top five sectors at $123,080.

What they earn and where they work

The state that employs the most Mechanical Engineers is California, reported the BLS. Currently, over 40,000 MEs work in the state. Finishing off the list of the top five states in the nation is Texas (23,370), Florida (15,110), New York (14,140), and Illinois (11,570). 

According to the BLS, the top metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area where MEs work is Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich., with 19,740 MEs working. Rounding out the top five are Los Angeles-Long Beach Anaheim, Calif. (8,280), Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass. (8,050), Houston-Pasadena-The Woodland, Texas (7,010), and New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y-N.J. (6,440).

The state where mechanical engineers earn the most is New Mexico. With an annual median wage of $141,490, these MEs lead the nation. Finishing off the list of the top five states in the nation is District of Columbia ($130,000), Alaska ($129,990), California ($126,370), and Massachusetts ($122,670). 

Top pay and future

According to the BLS, the industry with the highest concentration of MEs is the engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing sector. A little more than 4,800 MEs, make up 5.2 percent of that industry’s employment. Coming in second place at 4.4 percent of that industry’s employment is engineering services—a bit more than 52,000 MEs work in that sector. 

The honor of being one of the top industries when it comes to paying MEs is the oil and gas extraction industry. MEs report an annual median wage of $195,700. Rounding off the top five are solar electric power generation ($167,170), natural gas distribution ($145,920), remediation and other waste management service ($139,900), and nuclear electric power generation ($137,810). 

While employment of engineers is projected to grow by 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, the BLS says the expectation is brighter for mechanical engineering at 9 percent. Keep in mind that overall, change in employment across all occupations is just 3 percent. 

“About 18,100 openings for mechanical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire,” the BLS reported. 

Employment of mechanical engineers is expected to reach 319,600 in 2034. “Increase as automation and innovation create demand for these workers to design, develop, test, and maintain a variety of products and systems,” BLS concluded. “As manufacturing processes incorporate more complex automation machinery, mechanical engineers are expected to be needed to help integrate this equipment into existing systems.” And manufacturing, overall, represents a good opportunity for MEs in the next decade with the BLS forecasting an 8.6 percent growth in this sector. 

Cathy Cecere is Membership Content Program Manager.