Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Mechanical engineers work in a field that combines technical depth with broad career opportunity. Nationally, there are 293,000 mechanical engineering jobs, supported by a projected employment growth rate of 9.1%. This growth, together with 18,000 annual openings, suggests an ongoing need for new talent entering the profession as well as movement within the field. The role draws on a wide range of strengths, including mathematics, science, mechanical knowledge, computers and information technology, and critical and analytical thinking. Success also benefits from creativity and innovation, problem solving and decision making, project management, adaptability, and strong writing and reading skills. With a national median annual salary of $102,320 and a typical requirement of a bachelor’s degree, mechanical engineering offers a combination of professional-level earnings and a clear entry path. For students, career changers, and experienced professionals, it can support both technical specialization and long-term career development.
Mechanical engineers earn a national median annual salary of $102,320, indicating strong earning potential for a bachelor’s-level occupation. Pay varies significantly by location. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $130,900, followed by Colorado at $124,430 and Massachusetts at $119,300. Washington offers a median of $110,430, while New York is close to the national level at $102,440. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. Mechanical engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA have a median salary of $168,030, and those in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA earn $161,370. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV reports a median of $126,990, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offer $119,300 and $109,990, respectively. These figures show that earnings can shift substantially based on region and metro choice.
Mechanical engineering offers a solid employment outlook, with 293,000 jobs nationally and a projected employment growth rate of 9.1%. This projected expansion, combined with 18,000 annual openings, reflects not only new job creation but also turnover and career movement within the field. For people entering the profession, this combination of existing employment base and projected growth provides multiple pathways for finding opportunities over time. The national scope of the occupation helps support mobility between regions and roles. Job seekers can consider both large employment centers and emerging opportunities in different states and metro areas. Overall, the data indicate that mechanical engineering is expected to continue adding jobs while also generating a consistent flow of openings each year, which can benefit recent graduates, early-career professionals, and experienced engineers looking to transition or advance.
Location can make a meaningful difference for mechanical engineers in terms of salary, employment concentration, and overall opportunity. At the state level, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, combining a median salary of $130,900 and employment of 30,530. Massachusetts and New York also rank highly, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, respectively, and median salaries of $119,300 and $102,440. Colorado and Washington offer median salaries of $124,430 and $110,430, with opportunity scores in the mid‑50s. All of these top states share the same projected growth rate of 9.1%. Several metro areas stand out even more. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and the highest median salary at $168,030. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also offer strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for mechanical engineers is a bachelor’s degree, providing a defined academic pathway into the field. Success in this career depends on building a strong foundation in several key skill areas. Mathematics and science are central, supporting the analytical and technical aspects of the work. Mechanical knowledge and proficiency with computers and information technology are also important. The role relies heavily on critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, to address complex engineering challenges. Creativity and innovation help engineers generate new ideas and approaches, while project management skills support planning and coordination. Adaptability enables professionals to adjust to changing situations and requirements. Strong writing and reading skills are also valuable, helping mechanical engineers communicate clearly and understand technical information. Together, a bachelor’s degree and these skills form the core preparation for entering and advancing in this field.
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