Mechanical Engineer Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) mechanical engineer in the US earns $50.05 an hour, or $104,110 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 296,810 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,130 and $132,590 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $164,340.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $82,071 a year ($6,839 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in New Mexico ($112,269 a year) and lowest in Arkansas ($62,756).
Mechanical Engineer pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $35.57 | $73,990 | $60,882 |
| 25th percentile | $40.45 | $84,130 | $68,015 |
| Median (half earn more) | $50.05 | $104,110 | $82,071 |
| 75th percentile | $63.75 | $132,590 | $101,891 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $79.01 | $164,340 | $123,592 |
The average (mean) is $113,610 a year ($54.62 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 17-2141. Source
Mechanical Engineer salary by state
The highest median pay for mechanical engineers is in New Mexico ($157,710), District of Columbia ($133,310), California ($130,920), Delaware ($125,130), Colorado ($124,430). The lowest is in Arkansas ($80,180), Kansas ($86,260), North Dakota ($86,340).
The most mechanical engineers work in Michigan (34,630), California (30,530), Texas (22,080).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in New Mexico ($112,269), Alaska ($95,631), Wyoming ($91,667), Colorado ($90,533), California ($90,325). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet). Not shown, because BLS did not publish an estimate or it was flagged as unreliable: Alabama.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $59.78 | $124,340 | $95,631 | 380 |
| Arizona | $48.21 | $100,280 | $77,371 | 5,050 |
| Arkansas | $38.55 | $80,180 | $62,756 | 1,410 |
| California | $62.94 | $130,920 | $90,325 | 30,530 |
| Colorado | $59.82 | $124,430 | $90,533 | 7,190 |
| Connecticut | $50.52 | $105,080 | $76,899 | 4,600 |
| Delaware | $60.16 | $125,130 | $89,374 | 610 |
| District of Columbia | $64.09 | $133,310 | $102,383* | 510 |
| Florida | $48.07 | $99,990 | $79,173 | 10,740 |
| Georgia | $48.37 | $100,610 | $75,337 | 5,290 |
| Hawaii | $47.47 | $98,740 | $71,926 | 530 |
| Idaho | $44.80 | $93,180 | $70,300 | 1,070 |
| Illinois | $49.37 | $102,690 | $76,134 | 11,790 |
| Indiana | $47.88 | $99,590 | $73,992 | 8,690 |
| Iowa | $46.97 | $97,700 | $74,383 | 3,470 |
| Kansas | $41.47 | $86,260 | $65,500 | 4,630 |
| Kentucky | $48.58 | $101,050 | $76,500 | 4,170 |
| Louisiana | $57.47 | $119,540 | $89,630 | 1,890 |
| Maine | $49.25 | $102,440 | $74,872 | 890 |
| Maryland | $59.07 | $122,870 | $85,964 | 6,550 |
| Massachusetts | $57.36 | $119,310 | $86,926 | 7,680 |
| Michigan | $50.43 | $104,890 | $78,413 | 34,630 |
| Minnesota | $47.66 | $99,130 | $72,193 | 5,890 |
| Mississippi | $47.12 | $98,010 | $74,582 | 1,570 |
| Missouri | $47.75 | $99,320 | $74,984 | 4,870 |
| Montana | $45.28 | $94,180 | $71,134 | 500 |
| Nebraska | $42.34 | $88,070 | $67,393 | 950 |
| Nevada | $49.37 | $102,690 | $81,072 | 1,410 |
| New Hampshire | $49.84 | $103,670 | $81,762 | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $53.99 | $112,300 | $81,336 | 4,180 |
| New Mexico | $75.82 | $157,710 | $112,269 | 2,710 |
| New York | $49.25 | $102,440 | $75,384 | 8,590 |
| North Carolina | $48.42 | $100,710 | $76,091 | 9,560 |
| North Dakota | $41.51 | $86,340 | $68,998 | 790 |
| Ohio | $47.64 | $99,090 | $75,958 | 14,390 |
| Oklahoma | $48.97 | $101,860 | $76,458 | 2,270 |
| Oregon | $49.74 | $103,460 | $73,177 | 2,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $47.08 | $97,930 | $74,649 | 13,550 |
| Rhode Island | $55.88 | $116,230 | $84,666 | 1,560 |
| South Carolina | $50.28 | $104,580 | $77,534 | 5,780 |
| South Dakota | $42.49 | $88,380 | $71,005 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $47.86 | $99,550 | $78,863 | 3,930 |
| Texas | $54.05 | $112,420 | $87,917 | 22,080 |
| Utah | $49.28 | $102,500 | $76,389 | 3,370 |
| Vermont | $51.60 | $107,330 | $79,400 | 530 |
| Virginia | $50.09 | $104,190 | $76,951 | 7,470 |
| Washington | $53.09 | $110,430 | $84,986 | 8,240 |
| West Virginia | $46.82 | $97,390 | $73,773 | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $46.09 | $95,870 | $71,522 | 7,470 |
| Wyoming | $56.61 | $117,750 | $91,667 | 230 |
Overtime and pay rules for mechanical engineers
Many mechanical engineers are salaried and exempt from overtime as professional employees, which requires both professional duties and a salary of at least $684 a week (the federal standard salary level). An exempt employee is not owed overtime for extra hours, so there is no overtime to deduct. If you are paid by the hour, overtime rules apply. Source Source At this pay, a traditional 401(k), an HSA and other pre-tax benefits are usually the biggest tax savers.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a mechanical engineer's pay
On the median $104,110, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 21.2% of pay for a single filer: $14,074 of income tax and $7,964 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $88,010, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($5,206 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $1,145, so it costs about $4,060 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed mechanical engineers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Project Manager | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Clinical Psychologist | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $50 an hour is how much a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make?
The median pay is $50.05 an hour, or $104,110 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $73,990 and the top 10% more than $164,340.
How much does a mechanical engineer make after taxes?
About $82,071 a year, or $3,157 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Arkansas, at that state's own median pay, it is about $62,756.
How much does a mechanical engineer make a month?
About $8,676 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $6,839 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays mechanical engineers the most?
New Mexico, with a median of $157,710 a year ($75.82 an hour). Next are District of Columbia ($133,310) and California ($130,920). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in New Mexico.
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour?
The median is $50.05 an hour. The middle half earn $40.45 to $63.75, and the top 10% more than $79.01.
Do mechanical engineers get paid overtime?
Many mechanical engineers are salaried and exempt from overtime as professional employees, which requires both professional duties and a salary of at least $684 a week (the federal standard salary level). An exempt employee is not owed overtime for extra hours, so there is no overtime to deduct. If you are paid by the hour, overtime rules apply. At this pay, a traditional 401(k), an HSA and other pre-tax benefits are usually the biggest tax savers.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.