Mechanical Engineers salary by city
Median pay for mechanical engineers in 101 metropolitan areas covered by this index, measured by the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). The median annual wage runs from $85,490 in Des Moines, IA to $168,030 in San Jose, CA.
Mechanical Engineers pay at a glance
Highest median wage
$168,030
San Jose, CA
Lowest median wage
$85,490
Des Moines, IA
Midpoint of the range
$103,380
half the covered metros pay more, half pay less
People employed
272,690
across the covered metropolitan areas
Median wage covers the median rent
101 of 101
metros where the wage keeps rent at 30% of gross pay or less
Typical rent share
16.0%
median rent as a share of the median wage, averaged over the metros
Median mechanical engineers wage by city
Sorted from the highest median wage to the lowest
| City | Median wage | Mean wage | Employment | Rent share | vs. midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $165,920 | 5,540 | 18.7% | +62.5% |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $158,690 | 5,150 | 18.0% | +56.1% |
| Oakland, CA | $161,370 | $158,690 | 5,150 | 14.3% | +56.1% |
| Fremont, CA | $161,370 | $158,690 | 5,150 | 21.6% | +56.1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | $136,970 | 540 | 9.2% | +31.1% |
| Denver, CO | $128,180 | $126,140 | 4,530 | 16.6% | +24.0% |
| Aurora, CO | $128,180 | $126,140 | 4,530 | 16.5% | +24.0% |
| Washington, DC | $126,990 | $133,380 | 5,390 | 18.0% | +22.8% |
| Arlington, VA | $126,990 | $133,380 | 5,390 | 21.5% | +22.8% |
| Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $128,610 | 4,500 | 18.9% | +22.5% |
| Tacoma, WA | $126,590 | $128,610 | 4,500 | 15.1% | +22.5% |
| Houston, TX | $125,350 | $133,040 | 8,310 | 12.6% | +21.3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $124,340 | $124,680 | 280 | 11.9% | +20.3% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $123,900 | $123,940 | 8,780 | 18.2% | +19.8% |
| Long Beach, CA | $123,900 | $123,940 | 8,780 | 17.5% | +19.8% |
| Anaheim, CA | $123,900 | $123,940 | 8,780 | 20.2% | +19.8% |
| San Diego, CA | $121,750 | $124,420 | 3,370 | 21.9% | +17.8% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $121,750 | $124,420 | 3,370 | 20.9% | +17.8% |
| Anchorage, AK | $121,610 | $123,880 | 270 | 14.3% | +17.6% |
| Sacramento, CA | $120,970 | $123,710 | 1,480 | 16.8% | +17.0% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $119,790 | $121,730 | 560 | 13.7% | +15.9% |
| Boston, MA | $119,300 | $122,150 | 6,890 | 21.1% | +15.4% |
| New Orleans, LA | $117,990 | $121,080 | 530 | 12.3% | +14.1% |
| Stockton, CA | $117,420 | $115,420 | 220 | 15.3% | +13.6% |
| Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $123,240 | 3,050 | 13.3% | +12.9% |
| New York, NY | $109,990 | $117,500 | 6,960 | 19.4% | +6.4% |
| Newark, NJ | $109,990 | $117,500 | 6,960 | 14.5% | +6.4% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $109,990 | $117,500 | 6,960 | 20.8% | +6.4% |
| Greensboro, NC | $109,540 | $110,500 | 1,260 | 12.2% | +6.0% |
| Detroit, MI | $109,470 | $116,620 | 22,500 | 11.3% | +5.9% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $109,370 | $120,800 | 500 | 17.1% | +5.8% |
| Worcester, MA | $109,250 | $114,130 | 660 | 15.5% | +5.7% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $107,600 | $112,750 | 640 | 16.2% | +4.1% |
| Henderson, NV | $107,600 | $112,750 | 640 | 19.5% | +4.1% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $107,600 | $112,750 | 640 | 17.9% | +4.1% |
| Tulsa, OK | $107,440 | $109,640 | 1,060 | 11.1% | +3.9% |
| Austin, TX | $106,690 | $118,640 | 1,790 | 18.6% | +3.2% |
| Dallas, TX | $105,420 | $114,530 | 5,600 | 16.0% | +2.0% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $105,420 | $114,530 | 5,600 | 16.1% | +2.0% |
| Arlington, TX | $105,420 | $114,530 | 5,600 | 15.8% | +2.0% |
| Portland, OR | $105,020 | $116,540 | 2,520 | 18.2% | +1.6% |
| Modesto, CA | $104,990 | $109,400 | 120 | 18.4% | +1.6% |
| Riverside, CA | $104,910 | $108,900 | 1,420 | 20.7% | +1.5% |
| San Bernardino, CA | $104,910 | $108,900 | 1,420 | 16.4% | +1.5% |
| San Antonio, TX | $104,620 | $117,050 | 1,480 | 14.4% | +1.2% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $104,410 | $112,030 | 4,850 | 15.2% | +1.0% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $109,900 | 3,310 | 11.0% | +0.8% |
| Richmond, VA | $104,130 | $106,960 | 640 | 15.1% | +0.7% |
| Memphis, TN | $104,110 | $106,490 | 390 | 12.9% | +0.7% |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $103,820 | $106,220 | 900 | 12.7% | average |
| Orlando, FL | $103,380 | $108,170 | 1,720 | 19.2% | average |
| Huntsville, AL | $102,450 | $115,110 | 2,150 | 12.6% | -0.9% |
| Chicago, IL | $102,070 | $109,570 | 6,900 | 16.2% | -1.3% |
| Atlanta, GA | $102,020 | $113,990 | 3,070 | 19.0% | -1.3% |
| Charlotte, NC | $101,950 | $110,110 | 2,470 | 17.7% | -1.4% |
| Durham, NC | $101,650 | $111,540 | 620 | 16.7% | -1.7% |
| Reno, NV | $101,520 | $107,320 | 570 | 17.2% | -1.8% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $101,180 | $109,320 | 4,450 | 15.8% | -2.1% |
| St. Paul, MN | $101,180 | $109,320 | 4,450 | 14.8% | -2.1% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $100,980 | $107,570 | 3,660 | 17.3% | -2.3% |
| Mesa, AZ | $100,980 | $107,570 | 3,660 | 17.6% | -2.3% |
| Chandler, AZ | $100,980 | $107,570 | 3,660 | 21.5% | -2.3% |
| Columbus, OH | $100,730 | $99,840 | 2,630 | 14.6% | -2.6% |
| Lincoln, NE | $100,360 | $108,470 | 160 | 12.5% | -2.9% |
| St. Louis, MO | $100,340 | $102,580 | 2,190 | 11.7% | -2.9% |
| Tampa, FL | $100,290 | $109,050 | 1,220 | 18.7% | -3.0% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $100,290 | $109,050 | 1,220 | 18.5% | -3.0% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $100,280 | $102,540 | 2,210 | 19.7% | -3.0% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $100,280 | $102,540 | 2,210 | 18.2% | -3.0% |
| Norfolk, VA | $100,280 | $102,540 | 2,210 | 14.9% | -3.0% |
| Rochester, NY | $100,160 | $102,050 | 1,040 | 12.4% | -3.1% |
| Raleigh, NC | $100,000 | $104,950 | 1,810 | 17.6% | -3.3% |
| Tucson, AZ | $99,750 | $109,740 | 980 | 13.0% | -3.5% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $99,700 | $107,330 | 70 | 14.2% | -3.6% |
| Madison, WI | $99,680 | $103,480 | 770 | 16.4% | -3.6% |
| Miami, FL | $99,660 | $105,040 | 2,000 | 20.0% | -3.6% |
| Kansas City, MO | $99,630 | $102,280 | 4,330 | 14.3% | -3.6% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $99,500 | $105,550 | 1,210 | 16.6% | -3.8% |
| Nashville-Davidson, TN | $99,440 | $102,820 | 990 | 17.9% | -3.8% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $99,290 | $101,310 | 1,320 | 12.9% | -4.0% |
| Fresno, CA | $98,740 | $103,180 | 260 | 16.1% | -4.5% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $98,740 | $102,870 | 490 | 21.7% | -4.5% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $98,730 | $98,290 | 2,200 | 12.6% | -4.5% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $98,680 | $105,190 | 2,140 | 13.5% | -4.5% |
| Spokane, WA | $98,670 | $104,400 | 450 | 13.9% | -4.6% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $98,140 | $100,880 | 140 | 21.4% | -5.1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $98,050 | $102,860 | 3,470 | 14.9% | -5.2% |
| Cleveland, OH | $97,220 | $98,180 | 2,300 | 11.0% | -6.0% |
| Buffalo, NY | $97,200 | $100,200 | 780 | 12.2% | -6.0% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $96,930 | $101,300 | 710 | 13.4% | -6.2% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $95,600 | $98,680 | 480 | 13.0% | -7.5% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $95,310 | $99,110 | 560 | 12.1% | -7.8% |
| Toledo, OH | $95,170 | $107,540 | 620 | 11.1% | -7.9% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $95,150 | $104,260 | 110 | 22.5% | -8.0% |
| Wichita, KS | $94,610 | $100,140 | 800 | 12.2% | -8.5% |
| Omaha, NE | $93,180 | $96,380 | 490 | 14.8% | -9.9% |
| El Paso, TX | $91,430 | $98,210 | 200 | 13.7% | -11.6% |
| Columbus, GA | $91,430 | $108,790 | 80 | 14.1% | -11.6% |
| Boise City, ID | $91,340 | $94,900 | 480 | 17.9% | -11.6% |
| Lubbock, TX | $91,110 | $98,010 | 130 | 15.0% | -11.9% |
| Des Moines, IA | $85,490 | $96,830 | 390 | 14.8% | -17.3% |
Every row comes from the same survey, so the differences between cities are measured differences rather than estimates made here. "Rent share" compares each metro's median mechanical engineers wage with the median gross rent of the city of the same name, which is not the same area. See the methodology before reading small gaps as real.
Definitions used on this page
- Median wage
- The wage that half the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than. It is less sensitive to a few very high earners than the mean.
- Mean wage
- The average of all reported wages in the occupation, for one year of work.
- Employment
- The estimated number of jobs in the occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.
- Metropolitan area
- Wages are published for metro areas, which usually take in the city and its suburbs. The city figures on the cost of living pages cover only the city limits.
Source
The survey covers jobs, not people: one worker holding two jobs is counted twice, and self-employed workers are not counted at all. Pay is reported for the year as a whole, so a single employer can sit well above or below the median.
See every occupation covered, or compare living costs in the state pages.