Mechanical Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Mechanical Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $104,110 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 296,810. Wage data is published for 399 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
17-2141.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$104,110
Hourly median
$50.05
Employment
296,810
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Science | 3.75 | 4.50 |
| Mathematics | 3.75 | 4.50 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 4.50 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.50 | 4.38 |
| Active Learning | 3.50 | 4.25 |
| Writing | 3.38 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
- Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
- Provide technical customer service.
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
Technology
- 1CadCam Unigraphics
- Accelerated life testing software
- Adobe ActionScript
- Adobe Illustrator
- ANSYS simulation software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- Bill of materials software
- Blink
- Blue Ridge Numerics CFDesign
- C
- C++
Mechanical Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in MIMedian $104,890 · Employment 34,630
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in CAMedian $130,900 · Employment 30,530
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $109,470 · Employment 22,500
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in TXMedian $112,410 · Employment 22,080
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in OHMedian $99,100 · Employment 14,390
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in PAMedian $97,920 · Employment 13,550
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in ILMedian $102,680 · Employment 11,790
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in FLMedian $99,980 · Employment 10,740
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in NCMedian $100,720 · Employment 9,560
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $123,900 · Employment 8,780
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in INMedian $99,590 · Employment 8,690
- Mechanical Engineers Salary in NYMedian $102,440 · Employment 8,590
Related careers
- Electromechanical Equipment AssemblersNational median not published
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment AssemblersNational median not published
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorNational median $74,340
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersNational median $65,380
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $66,120
- Manufacturing EngineersNational median $102,440
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentNational median $74,090
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsNational median $78,620
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.