346 metro areas

Mechanical Engineer Salary by City (2026)

Mechanical engineers earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $165,920 a year, against $113,610 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Baton Rouge, LA ($150,880 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $113,610BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $165,920San Jose, CA
Best after cost of living: $150,880Baton Rouge, LA
Metro areas: 346With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Jose, CA$165,920
San Francisco, CA$158,700
Santa Cruz, CA$139,820
Augusta, GA-SC$137,030
Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
Midland, TX$136,660
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$133,370
Houston, TX$133,040
Boulder, CO$131,980
Logan, UT-ID$131,600

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for mechanical engineers
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$165,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$158,700
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$139,820
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$137,030
Baton Rouge, LA	$136,970
Midland, TX	$136,660
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$133,370
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$133,040
Boulder, CO	$131,980
Logan, UT-ID	$131,600

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Baton Rouge, LA$136,970 nominal$150,880
San Jose, CA$165,920 nominal$150,260
Lake Charles, LA$128,670 nominal$149,870
Augusta, GA-SC$137,030 nominal$149,100
Peoria, IL$130,540 nominal$143,090
Midland, TX$136,660 nominal$142,680
Beaumont, TX$124,950 nominal$138,760
San Francisco, CA$158,700 nominal$137,270
Logan, UT-ID$131,600 nominal$137,190
Decatur, AL$119,250 nominal$136,740

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for mechanical engineers
Item	Value
Baton Rouge, LA	$150,880
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$150,260
Lake Charles, LA	$149,870
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$149,100
Peoria, IL	$143,090
Midland, TX	$142,680
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$138,760
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$137,270
Logan, UT-ID	$137,190
Decatur, AL	$136,740

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Mechanical Engineer salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Mechanical Engineer pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Jose, CA	$165,920	$118,000	$189,530	$150,260
2	San Francisco, CA	$158,700	$110,510	$182,440	$137,270
3	Santa Cruz, CA	$139,820	$98,610	$160,100	$127,230
4	Augusta, GA-SC	$137,030	$90,190	$160,120	$149,100
5	Baton Rouge, LA	$136,970	$87,340	$161,410	$150,880
6	Midland, TX	$136,660	$86,400	$161,410	$142,680
7	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$133,370	$91,170	$154,170	$122,490
8	Houston, TX	$133,040	$86,030	$156,190	$134,890
9	Boulder, CO	$131,980	$85,920	$154,670	$125,450
10	Logan, UT-ID	$131,600	$73,720	$160,120	$137,190
11	Peoria, IL	$130,540	$94,220	$148,430	$143,090
12	Santa Maria, CA	$130,120	$90,920	$149,430	$119,600
13	Kennewick, WA	$129,460	$88,230	$149,760	$129,360
14	Lake Charles, LA	$128,670	$80,060	$152,590	$149,870
15	Seattle, WA	$128,610	$88,030	$148,600	$115,730
16	Salinas, CA	$128,230	$79,890	$152,050	$117,600
17	Lexington Park, MD	$128,210	$93,560	$145,270	$127,240
18	Denver, CO	$126,150	$85,010	$146,390	$119,250
19	Slidell, LA	$125,050	$75,190	$149,590	$134,860
20	Beaumont, TX	$124,950	$83,280	$145,450	$138,760
21	Corpus Christi, TX	$124,680	$83,260	$145,080	$134,540
22	San Diego, CA	$124,430	$86,150	$143,270	$111,210
23	Fairbanks, AK	$124,180	$81,700	$145,100	$120,320
24	Los Angeles, CA	$123,950	$82,620	$144,290	$109,140
25	Anchorage, AK	$123,880	$81,040	$145,000	$117,510
26	Sacramento, CA	$123,720	$88,690	$140,960	$115,980
27	Baltimore, MD	$123,240	$82,240	$143,440	$117,950
28	Chico, CA	$122,870	$77,520	$145,200	$121,420
29	Boston, MA-NH	$122,160	$86,090	$139,920	$112,830
30	Bakersfield, CA	$121,720	$83,800	$140,400	$120,650
31	Asheville, NC	$121,620	$80,370	$141,940	$126,020
32	Oxnard, CA	$121,350	$87,570	$137,990	$109,790
33	Tyler, TX	$121,260	$83,700	$139,760	$131,580
34	New Orleans, LA	$121,080	$77,830	$142,380	$130,760
35	Columbus, IN	$121,040	$90,900	$135,890	$130,150
36	Bellingham, WA	$120,810	$81,830	$140,000	$116,910
37	Colorado Springs, CO	$120,810	$82,080	$139,880	$119,960
38	Santa Rosa, CA	$120,100	$81,720	$139,010	$111,430
39	Ann Arbor, MI	$119,890	$82,490	$138,300	$118,840
40	Odessa, TX	$119,750	$79,540	$139,570	$127,530
41	Cheyenne, WY	$119,700	$87,360	$135,640	$124,050
42	Providence, RI-MA	$119,660	$80,810	$138,820	$117,580
43	Corvallis, OR	$119,430	$84,160	$136,820	$114,820
44	Decatur, AL	$119,250	$81,680	$137,740	$136,740
45	Bridgeport, CT	$118,960	$84,720	$135,800	$111,320
46	Austin, TX	$118,640	$77,310	$139,010	$120,980
47	Olympia, WA	$118,310	$73,420	$140,420	$114,120
48	Barnstable Town, MA	$117,690	$86,010	$133,290	$119,660
49	New York, NY-NJ	$117,500	$83,200	$134,390	$104,390
50	Greeley, CO	$117,080	$83,490	$133,640	$116,870
51	San Antonio, TX	$117,040	$80,790	$134,910	$123,570
52	Detroit, MI	$116,630	$84,860	$132,270	$116,280
53	Portland, OR-WA	$116,540	$83,970	$132,580	$110,550
54	Tuscaloosa, AL	$115,840	$79,330	$133,810	$132,050
55	Manchester, NH	$115,610	$79,750	$133,270	$109,420
56	Wenatchee, WA	$115,520	$78,870	$133,580	$111,230
57	Stockton, CA	$115,420	$72,090	$136,760	$109,830
58	Myrtle Beach, SC	$115,250	$83,490	$130,890	$123,080
59	Huntsville, AL	$115,110	$82,640	$131,100	$123,680
60	Hilton Head Island, SC	$114,860	$78,580	$132,750	$117,180
61	Albany, NY	$114,710	$80,100	$131,770	$115,210
62	Dallas, TX	$114,520	$78,250	$132,410	$111,090
63	Napa, CA	$114,520	$78,980	$132,060	$101,750
64	Mobile, AL	$114,380	$76,590	$132,970	$129,830
65	Worcester, MA	$114,130	$77,690	$132,080	$111,320
66	Atlanta, GA	$113,980	$72,010	$134,660	$113,910
67	Charleston, SC	$113,940	$80,350	$130,480	$112,850
68	Pittsfield, MA	$113,880	$82,260	$129,460	$119,740
69	Kokomo, IN	$113,730	$89,130	$125,840	$126,860
70	Charlottesville, VA	$113,400	$75,800	$131,910	$114,380
71	Burlington, VT	$113,280	$86,360	$126,530	$112,220
72	Albany, GA	$113,210	$71,360	$133,850	$129,130
73	Florence, AL	$113,090	$72,740	$132,950	$133,330
74	Las Vegas, NV	$112,760	$80,180	$128,790	$112,520
75	Billings, MT	$112,470	$79,060	$128,920	$120,260
76	Carson City, NV	$112,280	$80,890	$127,730	$114,420
77	Crestview, FL	$112,090	$74,400	$130,640	$115,520
78	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$112,030	$77,170	$129,190	$109,240
79	Greenville, SC	$111,840	$78,420	$128,320	$119,920
80	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$111,780	$81,080	$126,900	$118,700
81	Hartford, CT	$111,780	$79,040	$127,900	$108,790
82	Yuba City, CA	$111,780	$75,360	$129,710	$107,240
83	Vallejo, CA	$111,740	$79,100	$127,800	$103,010
84	Shreveport, LA	$111,720	$71,360	$131,600	$131,800
85	New Haven, CT	$111,650	$80,040	$127,210	$106,780
86	Durham, NC	$111,550	$78,440	$127,860	$114,330
87	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$111,510	$78,730	$127,670	$121,920
88	Jackson, TN	$111,450	$67,100	$133,290	$130,320
89	Syracuse, NY	$111,160	$79,580	$126,690	$116,100
90	Fort Collins, CO	$111,030	$76,900	$127,840	$109,790
91	Longview, WA	$110,680	$78,250	$126,650	$113,470
92	Allentown, PA-NJ	$110,510	$75,880	$127,570	$110,550
93	Greensboro, NC	$110,510	$82,530	$124,280	$119,000
94	Casper, WY	$110,240	$77,380	$126,420	$117,490
95	Bremerton, WA	$110,160	$80,790	$124,630	$104,310
96	Charlotte, NC-SC	$110,120	$77,770	$126,030	$113,120
97	Elizabethtown, KY	$110,090	$85,240	$122,350	$121,550
98	Portland, ME	$109,970	$81,390	$124,050	$107,960
99	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$109,910	$75,230	$126,980	$115,250
100	Wilmington, NC	$109,780	$73,960	$127,440	$113,850
101	Tucson, AZ	$109,740	$80,180	$124,300	$113,260
102	Sebastian, FL	$109,720	$69,680	$129,440	$111,610
103	Tulsa, OK	$109,640	$75,960	$126,240	$122,900
104	Midland, MI	$109,620	$70,910	$128,690	$119,250
105	Chicago, IL-IN	$109,570	$74,300	$126,940	$105,770
106	Modesto, CA	$109,410	$72,070	$127,770	$105,090
107	Trenton, NJ	$109,390	$79,230	$124,240	$106,020
108	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$109,320	$77,690	$124,900	$104,290
109	Ithaca, NY	$109,240	$76,860	$125,170	$105,730
110	Redding, CA	$109,160	$73,470	$126,760	$108,420
111	Tampa, FL	$109,050	$74,820	$125,920	$108,090
112	Palm Bay, FL	$109,030	$75,880	$125,380	$109,020
113	Amherst Town, MA	$108,990	$77,170	$124,680	$108,730
114	Riverside, CA	$108,910	$74,340	$125,920	$102,320
115	Columbus, GA-AL	$108,780	$72,240	$126,800	$121,820
116	Lincoln, NE	$108,470	$71,780	$126,550	$118,440
117	Spartanburg, SC	$108,410	$78,670	$123,050	$119,070
118	Orlando, FL	$108,180	$74,960	$124,530	$106,670
119	Charleston, WV	$108,140	$69,060	$127,400	$121,890
120	Kalamazoo, MI	$107,870	$74,340	$124,380	$113,740
121	Panama City, FL	$107,830	$78,150	$122,430	$110,830
122	Parkersburg, WV	$107,680	$77,710	$122,450	$123,680
123	Phoenix, AZ	$107,560	$74,300	$123,950	$104,110
124	San Luis Obispo, CA	$107,560	$74,900	$123,640	$99,050
125	Toledo, OH	$107,540	$67,660	$127,190	$117,590
126	La Crosse, WI-MN	$107,390	$79,160	$121,310	$117,020
127	Davenport, IA-IL	$107,350	$76,670	$122,470	$120,510
128	Fayetteville, NC	$107,330	$76,250	$122,640	$116,690
129	Reno, NV	$107,330	$74,380	$123,530	$106,250
130	Waco, TX	$107,120	$73,880	$123,490	$115,740
131	Erie, PA	$107,060	$69,430	$125,570	$117,710
132	Abilene, TX	$107,000	$71,300	$124,570	$118,410
133	Richmond, VA	$106,950	$77,560	$121,430	$109,290
134	Fond du Lac, WI	$106,930	$74,530	$122,910	$116,680
135	Columbia, SC	$106,870	$73,960	$123,070	$114,100
136	Sherman, TX	$106,870	$67,970	$126,010	$113,970
137	Springfield, IL	$106,770	$67,910	$125,900	$115,120
138	Niles, MI	$106,750	$77,460	$121,180	$115,570
139	Greenville, NC	$106,680	$66,390	$126,550	$120,680
140	Savannah, GA	$106,640	$77,060	$121,220	$112,010
141	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$106,500	$75,550	$121,720	$115,540
142	Florence, SC	$106,480	$72,880	$123,010	$122,710
143	Salt Lake City, UT	$106,430	$71,430	$123,680	$105,510
144	Pueblo, CO	$106,390	$81,660	$118,580	$115,940
145	Bend, OR	$106,350	$79,910	$119,370	$102,650
146	Kingsport, TN-VA	$106,330	$76,960	$120,810	$123,000
147	Lexington, KY	$106,230	$73,780	$122,200	$114,360
148	Lafayette, IN	$106,020	$70,870	$123,320	$113,480
149	Provo, UT	$105,770	$71,240	$122,780	$107,670
150	Warner Robins, GA	$105,680	$78,540	$119,060	$112,680
151	Jacksonville, FL	$105,560	$67,870	$124,110	$106,110
152	Waterbury, CT	$105,500	$76,610	$119,750	$105,730
153	Dayton, OH	$105,350	$73,130	$121,220	$113,650
154	Ogden, UT	$105,330	$77,000	$119,310	$104,960
155	Indianapolis, IN	$105,190	$73,070	$121,010	$109,920
156	Longview, TX	$105,140	$72,280	$121,350	$117,490
157	Medford, OR	$105,040	$75,280	$119,680	$103,560
158	Miami, FL	$105,040	$69,280	$122,660	$92,020
159	Killeen, TX	$105,000	$68,290	$123,070	$115,220
160	Walla Walla, WA	$105,000	$73,260	$120,620	$106,580
161	Raleigh, NC	$104,960	$69,800	$122,260	$106,930
162	Gulfport, MS	$104,830	$69,600	$122,180	$116,470
163	Kiryas Joel, NY	$104,790	$73,630	$120,140	$95,770
164	Chambersburg, PA	$104,690	$71,160	$121,200	$110,620
165	Mankato, MN	$104,620	$73,800	$119,830	$115,020
166	Birmingham, AL	$104,480	$68,950	$121,970	$114,010
167	Rochester, MN	$104,400	$75,650	$118,560	$114,950
168	Spokane, WA	$104,400	$74,210	$119,270	$104,040
169	Auburn, AL	$104,350	$72,300	$120,140	$118,670
170	Lansing, MI	$104,290	$72,610	$119,890	$109,790
171	Port St. Lucie, FL	$104,270	$68,080	$122,080	$104,030
172	Springfield, MA	$104,080	$75,280	$118,270	$108,350
173	Bloomington, IN	$103,960	$72,920	$119,250	$109,330
174	North Port, FL	$103,900	$68,100	$121,510	$101,450
175	Lawrence, KS	$103,670	$76,210	$117,190	$114,880
176	Bloomington, IL	$103,630	$71,030	$119,680	$110,790
177	Pensacola, FL	$103,580	$68,330	$120,950	$106,000
178	Madison, WI	$103,480	$74,780	$117,620	$106,370
179	Flagstaff, AZ	$103,420	$67,830	$120,930	$103,080
180	Fresno, CA	$103,190	$67,350	$120,830	$101,010
181	Sheboygan, WI	$103,080	$74,010	$117,420	$109,640
182	Texarkana, TX-AR	$103,060	$69,870	$119,410	$122,670
183	Grand Junction, CO	$103,020	$67,290	$120,620	$107,900
184	Urban Honolulu, HI	$102,880	$77,250	$115,480	$92,720
185	Pittsburgh, PA	$102,860	$70,700	$118,710	$108,650
186	Nashville, TN	$102,810	$66,310	$120,810	$106,720
187	Atlantic City, NJ	$102,770	$69,430	$119,200	$103,960
188	Vineland, NJ	$102,770	$79,810	$114,070	$107,090
189	Sumter, SC	$102,750	$69,410	$119,180	$116,730
190	Rockford, IL	$102,610	$73,380	$117,000	$111,350
191	St. Louis, MO-IL	$102,590	$70,930	$118,160	$107,890
192	Champaign, IL	$102,540	$71,240	$117,940	$110,610
193	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$102,540	$76,320	$115,460	$104,700
194	Prescott Valley, AZ	$102,320	$70,620	$117,920	$104,140
195	Kansas City, MO-KS	$102,270	$77,770	$114,360	$110,510
196	Knoxville, TN	$102,210	$67,870	$119,120	$110,410
197	Rochester, NY	$102,040	$73,530	$116,110	$105,160
198	Salem, OR	$102,000	$74,860	$115,380	$98,410
199	Dalton, GA	$101,800	$72,970	$116,000	$113,310
200	Jacksonville, NC	$101,750	$75,000	$114,920	$110,500
201	Roanoke, VA	$101,750	$77,730	$113,570	$108,690
202	Anniston, AL	$101,730	$76,610	$114,110	$118,360
203	Idaho Falls, ID	$101,710	$72,590	$116,040	$107,730
204	Brownsville, TX	$101,570	$71,860	$116,210	$118,140
205	Daphne, AL	$101,520	$69,580	$117,270	$107,210
206	Lima, OH	$101,500	$68,970	$117,540	$113,190
207	Topeka, KS	$101,500	$79,640	$112,280	$114,280
208	Winchester, VA-WV	$101,480	$55,370	$124,200	$105,220
209	Battle Creek, MI	$101,460	$69,680	$117,100	$112,060
210	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$101,320	$68,060	$117,690	$108,860
211	Oklahoma City, OK	$101,300	$75,880	$113,820	$112,050
212	Evansville, IN	$101,170	$70,870	$116,110	$110,530
213	Cape Coral, FL	$100,880	$61,650	$120,200	$98,560
214	Macon, GA	$100,780	$74,440	$113,760	$113,840
215	Flint, MI	$100,260	$69,490	$115,400	$107,770
216	Traverse City, MI	$100,240	$70,430	$114,920	$107,360
217	Albany, OR	$100,190	$78,060	$111,090	$98,130
218	Buffalo, NY	$100,190	$71,300	$114,440	$104,530
219	Wichita, KS	$100,130	$70,840	$114,570	$112,570
220	Amarillo, TX	$100,050	$74,050	$112,840	$108,960
221	Johnson City, TN	$100,030	$71,320	$114,150	$113,760
222	Rapid City, SD	$100,010	$73,690	$112,940	$112,170
223	Binghamton, NY	$99,990	$74,780	$112,380	$107,670
224	Houma, LA	$99,940	$71,200	$114,090	$117,430
225	Blacksburg, VA	$99,880	$67,230	$115,980	$107,730
226	Owensboro, KY	$99,880	$68,100	$115,520	$112,720
227	Columbus, OH	$99,840	$73,030	$113,050	$104,580
228	Lynchburg, VA	$99,550	$72,050	$113,090	$111,400
229	Bangor, ME	$99,530	$68,950	$114,570	$103,130
230	Bowling Green, KY	$99,530	$68,850	$114,630	$110,370
231	Paducah, KY-IL	$99,440	$67,700	$115,090	$115,520
232	Las Cruces, NM	$99,380	$70,990	$113,380	$110,160
233	Athens, GA	$99,340	$70,720	$113,420	$106,420
234	Rocky Mount, NC	$99,340	$74,380	$111,650	$112,870
235	Monroe, MI	$99,300	$67,910	$114,750	$106,210
236	Pinehurst, NC	$99,300	$71,360	$113,070	$112,410
237	Canton, OH	$99,280	$72,300	$112,550	$111,040
238	Fort Wayne, IN	$99,110	$67,620	$114,630	$107,060
239	Wheeling, WV-OH	$99,090	$71,260	$112,800	$112,190
240	Reading, PA	$99,070	$69,600	$113,610	$102,070
241	Burlington, NC	$99,010	$71,030	$112,800	$106,240
242	Lafayette, LA	$98,760	$69,010	$113,400	$113,250
243	Winston, NC	$98,680	$68,580	$113,510	$107,210
244	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$98,650	$68,540	$113,510	$100,360
245	York, PA	$98,650	$70,720	$112,400	$102,760
246	Michigan City, IN	$98,430	$68,470	$113,190	$107,360
247	Janesville, WI	$98,360	$69,370	$112,650	$104,970
248	Tallahassee, FL	$98,340	$63,440	$115,540	$104,710
249	Milwaukee, WI	$98,280	$71,430	$111,530	$101,390
250	Monroe, LA	$98,260	$50,190	$121,950	$117,540
251	El Paso, TX	$98,220	$59,780	$117,150	$109,240
252	Cleveland, OH	$98,180	$71,160	$111,490	$104,530
253	Harrisburg, PA	$98,180	$68,870	$112,610	$99,520
254	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$98,130	$74,730	$109,660	$113,510
255	Glens Falls, NY	$98,010	$71,430	$111,110	$103,310
256	Lubbock, TX	$98,010	$67,390	$113,090	$107,330
257	Ocala, FL	$97,990	$69,680	$111,950	$102,890
258	Eugene, OR	$97,880	$72,900	$110,180	$96,370
259	Punta Gorda, FL	$97,760	$65,190	$113,800	$97,250
260	Kingston, NY	$97,720	$73,840	$109,490	$97,030
261	Ames, IA	$97,680	$72,070	$110,280	$109,960
262	Akron, OH	$97,340	$70,300	$110,680	$104,250
263	Yakima, WA	$97,160	$73,260	$108,910	$101,690
264	Little Rock, AR	$97,050	$63,860	$113,420	$108,600
265	Utica, NY	$97,050	$67,270	$111,720	$104,720
266	Des Moines, IA	$96,820	$73,110	$108,510	$105,580
267	Watertown, NY	$96,760	$73,070	$108,430	$110,340
268	Lebanon, PA	$96,740	$64,290	$112,720	$103,780
269	Bay City, MI	$96,660	$68,850	$110,360	$105,160
270	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$96,600	$66,270	$111,530	$109,250
271	Goldsboro, NC	$96,490	$67,410	$110,820	$109,080
272	Morgantown, WV	$96,390	$67,560	$110,570	$103,290
273	Omaha, NE-IA	$96,390	$66,770	$110,950	$104,870
274	Elkhart, IN	$96,280	$72,430	$108,040	$106,590
275	Hickory, NC	$96,280	$64,920	$111,740	$108,810
276	Dothan, AL	$96,220	$63,940	$112,110	$114,780
277	Lakeland, FL	$96,220	$61,030	$113,550	$99,050
278	Iowa City, IA	$96,200	$71,050	$108,580	$105,130
279	Muskegon, MI	$96,120	$70,910	$108,530	$103,890
280	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$96,010	$63,690	$111,920	$111,540
281	Grand Rapids, MI	$95,950	$67,540	$109,930	$100,420
282	Dover, DE	$95,850	$60,300	$113,340	$98,300
283	Waterloo, IA	$95,720	$70,280	$108,240	$109,950
284	Jackson, MI	$95,660	$67,600	$109,470	$104,230
285	Sandusky, OH	$95,350	$70,510	$107,600	$106,800
286	Visalia, CA	$95,280	$64,230	$110,570	$95,450
287	Montgomery, AL	$95,200	$70,600	$107,330	$106,150
288	Duluth, MN-WI	$95,160	$71,550	$106,790	$107,200
289	Joplin, MO-KS	$95,100	$64,560	$110,140	$110,950
290	St. Cloud, MN	$95,010	$71,640	$106,520	$108,420
291	Boise City, ID	$94,910	$67,250	$108,510	$96,460
292	Missoula, MT	$94,870	$69,510	$107,350	$98,370
293	Cedar Rapids, IA	$94,850	$71,340	$106,430	$106,620
294	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$94,760	$67,790	$108,060	$109,340
295	Naples, FL	$94,600	$59,070	$112,110	$91,670
296	Green Bay, WI	$94,560	$67,160	$108,040	$101,580
297	Deltona, FL	$94,520	$69,530	$106,830	$95,120
298	Racine, WI	$94,520	$71,490	$105,870	$98,500
299	State College, PA	$94,330	$72,090	$105,290	$97,490
300	South Bend, IN-MI	$94,240	$63,070	$109,620	$101,490
301	Elmira, NY	$94,160	$70,660	$105,750	$99,750
302	Appleton, WI	$94,060	$70,720	$105,560	$101,780
303	Lancaster, PA	$94,040	$69,200	$106,270	$95,710
304	Lewiston, ID-WA	$94,020	$72,030	$104,830	$103,140
305	Yuma, AZ	$93,950	$71,050	$105,230	$101,340
306	Gainesville, GA	$93,560	$72,920	$103,730	$96,690
307	Jefferson City, MO	$93,480	$68,040	$106,000	$106,260
308	Saginaw, MI	$93,450	$68,540	$105,710	$102,820
309	Springfield, OH	$93,410	$68,020	$105,910	$103,240
310	Scranton, PA	$93,270	$65,020	$107,180	$99,690
311	Morristown, TN	$93,230	$65,040	$107,120	$107,950
312	Fargo, ND-MN	$93,120	$67,180	$105,890	$102,470
313	Wichita Falls, TX	$92,890	$63,440	$107,390	$103,770
314	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$92,850	$69,530	$104,350	$102,450
315	Kenosha, WI	$92,710	$66,020	$105,850	$91,680
316	Fayetteville, AR	$92,350	$66,410	$105,120	$101,090
317	Muncie, IN	$92,290	$72,380	$102,110	$104,700
318	Merced, CA	$92,190	$61,690	$107,180	$93,810
319	Clarksville, TN-KY	$92,040	$56,310	$109,640	$101,200
320	College Station, TX	$91,960	$57,550	$108,910	$101,110
321	McAllen, TX	$91,710	$60,420	$107,100	$106,770
322	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$91,620	$63,360	$105,540	$106,670
323	Staunton, VA	$91,580	$69,780	$102,340	$100,500
324	Williamsport, PA	$91,330	$65,060	$104,250	$98,900
325	Manhattan, KS	$91,230	$65,250	$104,020	$101,180
326	Oshkosh, WI	$90,830	$67,020	$102,560	$97,740
327	Twin Falls, ID	$90,750	$67,770	$102,040	$98,530
328	Bozeman, MT	$90,580	$68,720	$101,340	$88,360
329	Hattiesburg, MS	$90,540	$63,420	$103,920	$103,320
330	St. George, UT	$90,380	$63,790	$103,480	$92,870
331	Columbia, MO	$90,360	$65,790	$102,460	$101,030
332	Weirton, WV-OH	$90,210	$68,810	$100,760	$101,330
333	Kankakee, IL	$90,190	$62,690	$103,730	$93,560
334	Jackson, MS	$89,920	$61,010	$104,170	$100,980
335	Youngstown, OH	$89,810	$66,120	$101,480	$102,760
336	Springfield, MO	$89,360	$62,440	$102,610	$100,870
337	Eau Claire, WI	$89,000	$65,020	$100,820	$95,910
338	Altoona, PA	$88,940	$63,560	$101,440	$99,370
339	Terre Haute, IN	$88,520	$59,280	$102,940	$100,820
340	Wausau, WI	$88,000	$66,600	$98,550	$94,980
341	Mansfield, OH	$84,510	$61,900	$95,640	$95,090
342	San Angelo, TX	$84,200	$62,500	$94,890	$91,070
343	Gainesville, FL	$83,370	$51,770	$98,950	$86,190
344	Johnstown, PA	$82,490	$54,580	$96,260	$96,000
345	San Juan, PR	$78,600	$49,000	$93,200	N/A
346	Jonesboro, AR	$78,370	$61,150	$86,860	$91,260

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Mechanical Engineer salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays mechanical engineers the most?

San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $165,920 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($158,700), Santa Cruz, CA ($139,820), Augusta, GA-SC ($137,030). The national mean is $113,610 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do mechanical engineers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Baton Rouge, LA ($150,880 at national prices, $136,970 nominal), San Jose, CA ($150,260 at national prices, $165,920 nominal), Lake Charles, LA ($149,870 at national prices, $128,670 nominal).

How much do mechanical engineers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $117,500; Los Angeles, CA: $123,950; Chicago, IL-IN: $109,570; Dallas, TX: $114,520; Houston, TX: $133,040 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do mechanical engineers earn the least?

Of the 346 metro areas with their own estimate, Jonesboro, AR has the lowest mean wage, $78,370. At local prices that is worth $91,260.