Mechanical Engineer Salary in the United States (2026)
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in the US is $104,110 per year - about $8,676/month or $50/hour. Here is the full pay range, by experience level, based on 296,810 Mechanical Engineers tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mechanical Engineer salary by experience level
Pay rises sharply with experience. These bands are based on the BLS wage percentiles for Mechanical Engineers - entry-level roles cluster near the 10th-25th percentile, while senior and lead roles reach the 75th-90th.
Early-career and junior roles (10th-25th percentile).
The median - what a typical Mechanical Engineer earns.
Senior, lead and specialist roles (75th-90th percentile).
Full Mechanical Engineer salary distribution
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025. Occupation: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141). bls.gov/oes
Stop reading about Mechanical Engineer salaries - start earning one
LoopCV automatically applies to Mechanical Engineer jobs for you across LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor and 30+ more - every day. Upload your CV once and get in front of recruiters while everyone else is still scrolling job boards.
Auto-apply to Mechanical Engineer jobs - free50,000+ job seekers · No credit card required
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make?
A Mechanical Engineer in the United States earns a median of $104,110 per year as of 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earn under $73,990, while the top 10% earn more than $164,340 - a spread of $90,350 driven mostly by experience, location, industry and company size.
With roughly 296,810 people employed in this occupation nationally, Mechanical Engineer is one of the more established career paths - which means more openings, but also more competition per role. Applying early and at volume is the single biggest lever most candidates ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions
.
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in the US?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in the United States is $104,110 per year (2025), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to about $50 per hour.
What is the entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary?
Entry-level Mechanical Engineer roles typically pay between $73,990 and $84,130 per year, corresponding to the 10th-25th wage percentiles for this occupation.
What is the highest Mechanical Engineer salary?
The top 10% of Mechanical Engineers earn more than $164,340 per year. Senior, lead and specialist roles, plus high-cost metros and high-paying industries, push compensation toward the top of the range.
How can I earn more as a Mechanical Engineer?
The fastest way to raise your pay is to change roles - candidates who move companies typically see larger raises than internal increases. LoopCV helps by automatically applying to Mechanical Engineer jobs for you every day, so you get more offers to negotiate from.