Designs and analyzes roller coasters and theme park rides, working out the forces, structures, controls and safety systems that make them thrilling and safe. BLS does not publish separate figures for mechanical engineers; it counts them within mechanical engineer (SOC 17-2141), whose median pay is $104,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2141
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Amusement Ride Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $104,110a year, or $50.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $74KTop 10% $164K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +11.2%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+11.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +11.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 17,800298,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025298.5K
- Projected 2035332K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 298.5K Projected 2035 332K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school1.3%
- Certificate8.9%
- Some college8.3%
- Associate's28.6%
- Bachelor's52.3%
- Master's0.5%
Highest education held by mechanical engineers Segment Value High school 1.3% Certificate 8.9% Some college 8.3% Associate's 28.6% Bachelor's 52.3% Master's 0.5%
Also advertised as: Roller Coaster Engineer, Ride Engineer, Roller Coaster Designer, Ride Systems Engineer, Attraction Engineer.
Pay
How much do Mechanical Engineers make?
Every amusement ride engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$104,110
Middle half earn $84,130 to $132,590
- 10th
- $73,990
- 25th
- $84,130
- 75th
- $132,590
- 90th
- $164,340
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,990 |
| 25th | $84,130 |
| Median | $104,110 |
| 75th | $132,590 |
| 90th | $164,340 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $104,110
- Median hourly wage
- $50.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $113,610
- People employed
- 296,810
Versus all US occupations
At $104,110, Mechanical Engineers earn 104% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $53,130 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
The median is typical for the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $164,340 or more while the bottom 10% earn $73,990, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 77% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Mexico pays the most at $157,710, and still leads at $171,030 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Mechanical Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Mexico | $157,710 | $171,030 | 2,710 |
| 2District of Columbia | $133,300 | $121,291 | 510 |
| 3California | $130,900 | $118,226 | 30,530 |
| 4Delaware | $125,130 | $125,371 | 610 |
| 5Colorado | $124,430 | $120,745 | 7,190 |
| 6Alaska | $124,340 | $121,474 | 380 |
| 7Maryland | $122,870 | $117,065 | 6,550 |
| 8Louisiana | $119,540 | $135,522 | 1,890 |
| 9Massachusetts | $119,300 | $112,806 | 7,680 |
| 10Wyoming | $117,750 | $127,035 | 230 |
Job outlook
Is Amusement Ride Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +11.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | +11.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Mechanical Engineers to change 11.2% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.2× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 33,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 17,800 openings are projected each year, 6.0% of the 298,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Amusement Ride Engineer
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, with coursework in dynamics, structures, controls and fatigue. Some ride engineers have degrees in civil, electrical or aerospace engineering. Internships at ride manufacturers or theme park engineering departments are a common way in.
Many engineers later earn a professional engineer license, which some states and clients require for structural sign-off. Participation in the ASTM F24 committee and the IAAPA trade association helps engineers stay current on standards and meet employers. Experience with simulation software and dynamic analysis is highly valued.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as mechanical engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree52.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree28.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.9%
- Some College Courses8.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)1.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 52.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 28.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.9% |
| Some College Courses | 8.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 1.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Amusement Ride Engineer do?
Amusement ride engineers design the mechanical, structural and control systems of roller coasters, flat rides, water rides and dark rides. They lay out track geometry, calculate the accelerations riders will feel, design vehicles, restraints, brakes and launch systems, and analyze steel and concrete structures for fatigue over millions of cycles.
They work for ride manufacturers, theme park operators and engineering consultancies, collaborating with creative designers who shape the story and experience. Ride engineers write test plans, oversee commissioning at the park, and make sure designs meet the ASTM F24 standards for amusement rides, including the design practice in ASTM F2291, along with any international standards for rides built abroad.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design track layouts and calculate rider accelerations and forces
- Design ride vehicles, restraints, brakes and launch systems
- Perform structural and fatigue analysis of ride components
- Develop control system and safety system requirements
- Apply ASTM F24 standards to ride designs
- Write test plans and oversee ride commissioning
- Collaborate with creative designers on ride experience
- Investigate field issues and design modifications
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Ride engineers spend most of their time in offices using design and analysis software, with periods on site at parks during installation, testing and commissioning. Commissioning trips can last weeks and may be international. Deadlines tied to park opening dates can bring long hours.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Mathematics3.8
- Science3.8
- Active Learning3.5
- Writing3.4
- Speaking3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Operations Analysis3.5
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.4
- Technology Design3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 |
| Technology Design | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Amusement Ride Engineer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRA) built on O*NET's Mechanical Engineer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Amusement Ride Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.4
- Investigative5.5
- Conventional4.8
- Artistic3.0
- Enterprising2.0
- Social1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Amusement Ride Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician
$74,510median a year
Most earn $48K to $106K
+1.3%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
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More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with mechanical engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Amusement Ride Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Amusement Ride Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Amusement Ride Engineer appears on
Questions
Amusement Ride Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Mechanical Engineers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for mechanical engineers. It counts them within mechanical engineer, whose median pay is $104,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $84,130 and $132,590, and the top 10% earn $164,340 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Amusement Ride Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Mechanical Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Amusement Ride Engineer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.2% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 17,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Amusement Ride Engineer do?
Amusement ride engineers design the mechanical, structural and control systems of roller coasters, flat rides, water rides and dark rides. A typical task: design track layouts and calculate rider accelerations and forces. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Configuration management software.
Which states pay Mechanical Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Mechanical Engineers are New Mexico ($157,710), District of Columbia ($133,300), California ($130,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Amusement Ride Engineer?
O*NET scores Mechanical Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.