Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

17-2141 Mechanical Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
238,260 1.8 % $40.17 $83,550 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $24.68 $30.52 $38.09 $47.39 $57.67
Annual Wage (2) $51,340 $63,470 $79,230 $98,580 $119,950

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 52,660 4.08 $43.03 $89,500
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 11,870 0.58 $44.32 $92,190
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 11,800 2.49 $42.97 $89,390
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 10,940 2.69 $41.83 $87,000
Scientific Research and Development Services 10,930 1.73 $42.75 $88,930

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 4,580 4.81 $37.98 $78,990
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 4,430 4.37 $34.99 $72,770
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 6,440 4.20 $45.71 $95,080
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 52,660 4.08 $43.03 $89,500
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing 730 3.82 $35.15 $73,110

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Lessors of Real Estate (8) (8) $57.39 $119,380
Oil and Gas Extraction 300 0.19 $52.17 $108,520
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (8) (8) $49.94 $103,880
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 180 0.03 $49.41 $102,770
Spectator Sports 270 0.22 $49.21 $102,360

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 31,330 8.18 4.41 $41.63 $86,590
California 21,940 1.56 0.84 $44.83 $93,250
Texas 16,070 1.56 0.84 $43.68 $90,860
Illinois 11,370 2.04 1.10 $42.19 $87,760
Pennsylvania 11,360 2.05 1.10 $38.12 $79,300




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 31,330 8.18 4.41 $41.63 $86,590
Connecticut 5,460 3.40 1.83 $38.47 $80,020
South Carolina 5,860 3.31 1.78 $40.91 $85,100
Indiana 7,760 2.82 1.52 $35.75 $74,350
New Hampshire 1,680 2.76 1.49 $38.46 $79,990




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 500 1.61 0.87 $49.45 $102,860
California 21,940 1.56 0.84 $44.83 $93,250
Maryland 4,800 1.94 1.04 $44.62 $92,800
Rhode Island 900 2.00 1.08 $44.56 $92,680
District of Columbia 720 1.12 0.60 $44.00 $91,530





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 17,140 16.52 8.89 $43.72 $90,940
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 6,730 2.64 1.42 $48.08 $100,000
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 5,900 1.54 0.83 $44.51 $92,570
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 5,130 1.43 0.77 $39.10 $81,340
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 4,010 2.34 1.26 $38.78 $80,670
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 3,950 1.93 1.04 $43.98 $91,480
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,890 1.68 0.91 $48.67 $101,230
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 3,560 2.12 1.14 $41.98 $87,320
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,530 0.70 0.38 $42.94 $89,310
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 3,450 1.90 1.02 $42.68 $88,770




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 17,140 16.52 8.89 $43.72 $90,940
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 720 12.47 6.72 $36.54 $76,000
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC 2,520 8.53 4.59 $40.90 $85,060
Holland-Grand Haven, MI 650 6.46 3.48 $35.04 $72,880
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 500 6.33 3.41 $39.40 $81,960
Framingham, MA NECTA Division 960 6.18 3.32 $45.61 $94,870
Huntsville, AL 1,220 6.04 3.25 $43.60 $90,680
Wilmington, NC 680 5.03 2.71 $46.84 $97,430
Monroe, MI 180 5.03 2.71 $38.23 $79,520
Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division 570 4.97 2.68 $45.73 $95,120