Salary Outlook
According to the BLS, mechanical engineers earned a median salary of $79,230 in 2011. The best-paid earned about $119,950, while the lowest-paid earned less than $51,340. Areas of the industry that pay well include lessors of real estate, oil and gas extraction, and bakeries and tortilla manufacturing. The top-paying metropolitan areas for the occupation include Idaho Falls, Idaho, Bloomington, Ill., and Sheboygan, Wis.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $68,670.00 |
| 2004 | $65,440.00 |
| 2006 | $69,540.00 |
| 2008 | $74,360.00 |
| 2010 | $77,820.00 |
Average Mechanical Engineer Pay vs. All Technology Jobs
With an average salary of $79,230, mechanical engineers are padding their coffers at a higher rate than a number of other business jobs. At $71,910, logisticians are a step behind when it comes to average salary. The gap is even wider for compliance officers, whose salary of $60,740 puts the profession at nearly twice the level of pay. Still, some business jobs, like sales managers, earn more than mechanical engineers.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $101,640.00 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $79,230.00 |
| Logistician | $71,910.00 |
| Compliance Officer | $60,740.00 |
| Loan Officer | $58,030.00 |
See Complete List of Best Technology Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Mechanical Engineers
The highest paid in the mechanical engineer profession work in the metropolitan areas of Idaho Falls, ID, Bloomington, IL, and Sheboygan, WI. The San Jose, CA area also pays well, as does the city of Anchorage, AK.
Idaho Falls, ID
Average Salary: $128,890 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a mechanical engineer working in Idaho Falls, ID is $128,890, which is $49,660 more than the average pay in the profession.
Bloomington, IL
Average Salary: $117,420 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a mechanical engineer working in Bloomington, IL is $117,420, which is $38,190 more than the average pay in the profession.
Sheboygan, WI
Average Salary: $106,730 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a mechanical engineer working in Sheboygan, WI is $106,730, which is $27,500 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $105,800 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a mechanical engineer working in San Jose, CA is $105,800, which is $26,570 more than the average pay in the profession.
Anchorage, AK
Average Salary: $104,210 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a mechanical engineer working in Anchorage, AK is $104,210, which is $24,980 more than the average pay in the profession.
