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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

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 this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
303,440 1.4 % $44.62 $92,800 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $27.05 $33.37 $42.00 $53.14 $65.65
Annual Wage (2) $56,270 $69,410 $87,370 $110,520 $136,550

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

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

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 61,180 4.22 $46.78 $97,310
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 30,070 4.13 $40.50 $84,240
Scientific Research and Development Services 17,100 2.54 $49.86 $103,720
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 13,660 2.81 $49.52 $103,000
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 12,570 0.63 $47.77 $99,370

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 5,180 5.46 $46.58 $96,890
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 1,430 4.33 $41.36 $86,030
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 61,180 4.22 $46.78 $97,310
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 30,070 4.13 $40.50 $84,240
Household Appliance Manufacturing 2,220 3.55 $40.60 $84,440

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 450 0.32 $61.00 $126,880
Waste Treatment and Disposal 480 0.49 $57.79 $120,200
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services 50 0.03 $52.67 $109,560
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 860 0.76 $52.39 $108,980
Spectator Sports 470 0.33 $51.50 $107,110

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

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





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 43,890 10.16 4.85 $43.80 $91,100
California 27,330 1.61 0.77 $51.62 $107,370
Texas 20,820 1.72 0.82 $50.75 $105,570
Illinois 17,320 2.89 1.38 $44.24 $92,030
Pennsylvania 16,590 2.84 1.35 $41.22 $85,740




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 43,890 10.16 4.85 $43.80 $91,100
Wisconsin 11,270 3.95 1.89 $38.16 $79,360
New Hampshire 2,410 3.70 1.76 $46.76 $97,270
South Carolina 6,000 2.91 1.39 $45.06 $93,730
Minnesota 8,340 2.91 1.39 $41.84 $87,030




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 430 1.37 0.65 $61.87 $128,690
District of Columbia 620 0.87 0.41 $54.22 $112,780
New Mexico 1,290 1.59 0.76 $52.99 $110,210
Maryland 5,670 2.11 1.01 $52.86 $109,960
California 27,330 1.61 0.77 $51.62 $107,370





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 31,180 15.81 7.54 $46.10 $95,880
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 11,950 2.58 1.23 $43.17 $89,790
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,670 1.58 0.75 $50.19 $104,400
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 8,770 3.18 1.52 $48.55 $100,980
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 8,750 0.92 0.44 $47.15 $98,070
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 8,130 2.72 1.30 $51.61 $107,350
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 6,630 3.39 1.62 $42.78 $88,980
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,350 2.23 1.06 $43.83 $91,170
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,740 1.83 0.87 $56.36 $117,220
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,720 1.60 0.76 $53.55 $111,380