Cost Estimators
Median wage · national
$78,740
Range: $61K – $102K
Employed
224K
Openings/yr
17K
Typically: bachelor's degree
STEM
Mechanical Engineer
With a national median of $104,110 and +9.1% projected job growth through 2034, Mechanical Engineer offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Mechanical Engineer
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.
- Median Wage
- $104,110
- Employed Nationally
- 297K
- Openings / Year
- 18,100
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer)
Application Engineer
Automation Engineer
Body Engineer
Brake Engineer
How Much Do Mechanical Engineers Make?
Mechanical Engineer earn $104,110 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $84,130 and $132,590. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$104,110
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$84K–$133K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$84,130
Entry-level
$104,110
Median
$132,590
Experienced
What Do Mechanical Engineers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Mechanical Engineer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
- Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Where Do Mechanical Engineers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Mechanical Engineers?
The BLS projects +9.1% employment change for Mechanical Engineer through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 18,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +9.1%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Faster than average.
18,100
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
297K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Mechanical Engineer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $104,110 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 31,830 | $102,730 | -1.3% |
| 2 | California | 27,090 | $126,370 | +21.4% |
| 3 | Texas | 18,790 | $108,240 | +4.0% |
| 4 | Ohio | 16,420 | $96,330 | -7.5% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 14,300 | $97,450 | -6.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Mechanical Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 43,522 | $92,135 | 441 |
| 2 | Engineering Mechanics | 209 | $93,437 | 28 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Mechanical Engineers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 5 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Mechanical Engineer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Mechanical Engineer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Mechanical Engineer Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Mechanical Engineer a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $104,110 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +9.1% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $132,590 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 297K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $104,110 median while building the experience employers require.
Mechanical Engineer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Mechanical Engineer professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Mechanical Engineer is $104,110, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $84,130 and $132,590. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Mechanical Engineer a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $104,110 median with +9.1% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $84,130, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Mechanical Engineer?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Mechanical Engineering are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $104,110 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Mechanical Engineer?
The BLS projects +9.1% employment change for Mechanical Engineer through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 18,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 297K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Mechanical Engineer professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Mechanical Engineer roles: Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
- Engineering tech
- Engineering
- Program earnings
- Applied degree
- Technician careers
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
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