Mechanical Engineer pay in the United States: San Jose leads, Jacksonville trails
The United States national median for a mechanical engineer is US$104,000 a year. Among 21 metros with observed data, pay runs from about US$99,500 in Jacksonville to US$168,030 in San Jose (1.7×).
BLS OEWS (May 2025) publishes the national spread for the matching occupation: US$73,990 at the 10th percentile and US$164,340 at the 90th, a 2.2× gap.
San Jose is +62% against the national median and Jacksonville -4%. In between: San Francisco US$161,370, Denver US$128,180, Washington US$126,990, and Seattle US$126,590.
The closest engineering peer is electrical engineer at US$108,000, so a mechanical engineer earns 3.7% less at the national median in the United States.
Why a United States-median offer can be low in San Jose
San Jose’s observed median is US$168,030, with a local band of about US$105,400–US$217,530. An offer pitched at the national median (US$104,000) would sit 62% under the local midpoint.
Mechanical Engineer pay in official statistics for the United States
The closest official occupation is Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141). In May 2025 its national median was $104,110 a year.
The headline median at the top of this page comes from this same table, rounded to the nearest hundred.
The published 10th and 90th percentiles are $73,990 and $164,340, a 2.2× spread.
BLS estimates 296,810 jobs in this occupation nationwide.
51 states have a published figure. New Mexico is highest at $157,710 (+51% vs national) and Arkansas lowest at $80,180, a 1.97× gap.
17 of the 51 pay above the national median; the next highest after New Mexico are District of Columbia ($133,300) and California ($130,900).
National figures, Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141), May 2025
Mechanical Engineer pay in the United States vs other countries
The United States is 1st of 5 countries for this role once medians are converted at the same exchange rate (US$104,000). Germany pays 33% less (US$70,012). The gap between the highest and lowest market is 6.9×.
That median is about 1.2× GDP per person (US$90,000, World Bank 2025). That is a rough sign of how far the role pays above the average national income.
Among the 27 careers we cover, this one ranks 16th by national median. Just above it is Electrical Engineer (US$108,000, 4% more). Just below is Financial Analyst (US$103,000).
Within engineering, Electrical Engineer (US$108,000) pays more, while Civil Engineer (US$98,000) pays less.
Mechanical Engineer take-home pay in the United States (estimate)
Using our take-home calculator for the United States, the US$104,000 median loses income tax US$14,050, Social Security US$6,448 and Medicare US$1,508, leaving US$81,994 a year or US$6,833 a month. Total deductions: 21% of gross.
At the published 10th percentile from BLS OEWS (May 2025) (US$73,990) deductions are 18%; at the 90th (US$164,340) they reach 25%, leaving US$10,299 a month.
The United States: prices, jobs and holidays
Consumer prices in the United States rose 2.9% in 2024 (World Bank). Matching that on the US$104,000 median takes a raise of about US$3,016.
Unemployment was 4.2% of the labour force in 2025.
The United States has 14 public holidays in 2026 (Nager.Date); at the median, one working day is worth about US$400 before tax.
United States
Germany