Mechanical Engineer Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 11,126 US job postings by 2,857 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for mechanical engineers: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 11,126 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for mechanical engineers in US job postings is $122,000 a year (3,568 postings from 889 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $95,000 to $150,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $95,000 a year (319 postings).
- The skills that most set mechanical engineer postings apart are solidworks, autocad, mechanical design.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 5 years of experience.
Mechanical Engineer job postings in the US, October 2026
- $122,000
- Median advertised pay (3,568 postings)
- $95,000–$150,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $95,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 11,126
- US job postings from 2,857 employers
How much does a mechanical engineer make?
The median advertised pay is $122,000 a year, from 3,568 US job postings by 889 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $178,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 3,568 US mechanical engineer job postings: median $122,000 a year, middle half $95,000 to $150,000.
- Median: $122,000
- 25th percentile: $95,000
- 75th percentile: $150,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $30K–$40K | 0.2% |
| $40K–$50K | 3.4% |
| $50K–$60K | 4.5% |
| $60K–$70K | 2.5% |
| $70K–$80K | 4.5% |
| $80K–$90K | 7.0% |
| $90K–$100K | 7.6% |
| $100K–$110K | 8.8% |
| $110K–$120K | 9.2% |
| $120K–$130K | 9.7% |
| $130K–$140K | 8.9% |
| $140K–$150K | 7.3% |
| $150K–$160K | 8.0% |
| $160K–$170K | 4.6% |
| $170K–$180K | 4.1% |
| $180K–$190K | 2.8% |
| $190K–$200K | 2.0% |
| $200K–$210K | 1.6% |
| $210K–$220K | 0.7% |
| $220K–$230K | 0.9% |
| $230K–$240K | 0.5% |
| $240K–$250K | 0.2% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $28.03 | $24.25–$39.25 | 418 | Mechanical Engineering Intern, Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Co-Op |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $127,000 | $103K–$152K | 2,404 | Mechanical Engineer, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer |
| All pay postings, annualised | $122,000 | $95K–$150K | 3,568 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Mechanical Engineers (17-2141) at $104,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for a mechanical engineer?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $95,000 a year (319 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $95,000 | 319 |
| 2-4 years | $118,000 | 1,182 |
| 5+ years | $145,000 | 1,372 |
Mechanical engineer levels and pay
Levels as they appear in job titles, ordered by the median experience asked. Senior mechanical engineers have a median advertised pay of $141,000 a year.
| Level in title | Share of postings | Median experience asked | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 2.5% | 1 year | – |
| Level II | 3.7% | 3 years | $103,000 |
| No level in title | 68.1% | 4 years | $112,000 |
| Level III | 2.1% | 5 years | – |
| Senior | 17.1% | 6 years | $141,000 |
| Lead | 1.7% | 6 years | – |
| Staff | 1.8% | 7 years | – |
| Principal | 1.9% | 8 years | – |
Highest-paying mechanical engineer jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer (general) | $128,000 | 1,530 | 496 |
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | $127,000 | 394 | 134 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | $122,000 | 479 | 199 |
Mechanical engineer pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $150,000 | $122,000–$175,000 | 923 | 22.0% |
| New York | $111,000 | $88,000–$135,000 | 180 | 4.6% |
| Massachusetts | $110,000 | $83,000–$140,000 | 131 | 3.9% |
Skills employers ask for in mechanical engineer job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 39% |
| Problem-solving | 20% |
| Solidworks | 19% |
| Autocad | 16% |
| Excel | 14% |
| Analytical skills | 13% |
| Microsoft Office | 13% |
| Organizational skills | 10% |
| Attention to detail | 10% |
| Interpersonal skills | 10% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set mechanical engineers apart
- Solidworks58.7× as often as in all postings · 19%
- Autocad16.5× as often as in all postings · 16%
- Mechanical design94.7× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Gd&t33.6× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Fea111.7× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Creo75.8× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Ansys87.1× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Revit20.7× as often as in all postings · 8%
- Cad28.1× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Cad software32.9× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Hvac8.7× as often as in all postings · 6%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a mechanical engineer job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a mechanical engineer do?
Employers post these jobs as Senior Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanical Designer, Mechanical Engineer II, Mechanical Engineering Intern and other titles. The largest specializations are Mechanical Design Engineer (13%), Mechanical Systems Engineer (10%), Mechanical Engineering Intern (8%), Product Engineer (6%), Design Engineer (3%), Thermal Engineer (3%).
The closest official occupation is Mechanical Engineers (17-2141.00). Its most important tasks:
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a mechanical engineer?
Among 5,321 postings that state a minimum, the median is 5 years. 4% say 0 years and 10% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 5,321 US mechanical engineer job postings: median 5 years, and 10% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 4% |
| 1 yr | 6% |
| 2 yrs | 14% |
| 3-4 yrs | 24% |
| 5-7 yrs | 33% |
| 8-9 yrs | 7% |
| 10+ yrs | 12% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 96%, Part-time 4% of the 1,026 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a mechanical engineer: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | 1,056 (37.0%) |
| Senior Mechanical Engineer | 477 (16.7%) |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | 309 (10.8%) |
| Mechanical Designer | 166 (5.8%) |
| Mechanical Engineer II | 144 (5.0%) |
| Mechanical Engineering Intern | 136 (4.8%) |
| Sr. Mechanical Engineer | 128 (4.5%) |
| Product Development Engineer | 111 (3.9%) |
| Senior Mechanical Design Engineer | 96 (3.4%) |
| Mechanical Engineer I | 86 (3.0%) |
| Mechanical Engineer III | 80 (2.8%) |
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | 78 (2.7%) |
| Product Design Engineer | 78 (2.7%) |
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | 70 (2.5%) |
| Mechanical Engineering Co-Op | 62 (2.2%) |
| Lead Mechanical Engineer | 60 (2.1%) |
| Thermal Engineer | 55 (1.9%) |
| Mechanical Engineer Intern | 53 (1.9%) |
| Sr Mechanical Engineer | 35 (1.2%) |
| Design Release Engineer | 32 (1.1%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Mechanical Engineer compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $122K | 5 years | 11,126 | – |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $110K | 3 years | 10,109 | 17 |
| CAD Designer | $84K | 3 years | 3,380 | 16 |
| Industrial Designer | – | – | 171 | 12 |
| Structural Engineer | $115K | 5 years | 3,900 | 15 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineer | 17 | $110K |
| CAD Designer | 16 | $84K |
| Industrial Designer | 12 | – |
| Structural Engineer | 15 | $115K |
| Electrical Engineer | 16 | $132K |
| Architect | 12 | $110K |
Applying for mechanical engineer jobs?
- Mechanical engineer resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find mechanical engineer jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make?
What is the starting salary for a mechanical engineer?
What are the highest-paying mechanical engineer jobs?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 18 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.