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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

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:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
306,990 1.3 % $44.97 $93,540 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $27.47 $33.79 $42.51 $53.84 $66.36
Annual Wage (2) $57,130 $70,280 $88,430 $111,980 $138,020


Industry profile for this occupation:

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 63,120 4.21 $46.85 $97,460
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 29,880 3.97 $41.16 $85,620
Scientific Research and Development Services 17,250 2.44 $50.64 $105,340
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 15,210 2.92 $50.08 $104,160
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 13,180 0.66 $47.58 $98,960

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 6,040 6.19 $44.09 $91,700
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 63,120 4.21 $46.85 $97,460
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 1,390 4.05 $42.17 $87,720
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 29,880 3.97 $41.16 $85,620
Household Appliance Manufacturing 2,160 3.60 $41.51 $86,330

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Waste Treatment and Disposal 290 0.29 $59.19 $123,100
Oil and Gas Extraction 470 0.34 $59.05 $122,830
Insurance Carriers 90 0.01 $54.25 $112,850
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (8) (8) $54.09 $112,500
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 860 0.76 $53.32 $110,900


Geographic profile for this occupation:

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 43,850 10.09 4.83 $44.64 $92,850
California 27,830 1.60 0.77 $51.88 $107,920
Texas 22,020 1.77 0.85 $49.51 $102,980
Pennsylvania 16,930 2.87 1.37 $40.91 $85,100
Ohio 15,300 2.81 1.34 $39.80 $82,780




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 43,850 10.09 4.83 $44.64 $92,850
Wisconsin 12,090 4.21 2.02 $38.77 $80,650
New Hampshire 2,660 4.02 1.92 $46.90 $97,560
Pennsylvania 16,930 2.87 1.37 $40.91 $85,100
Ohio 15,300 2.81 1.34 $39.80 $82,780




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Mexico 1,250 1.52 0.73 $55.01 $114,420
District of Columbia 580 0.80 0.38 $53.96 $112,240
Maryland 5,800 2.15 1.03 $52.79 $109,800
California 27,830 1.60 0.77 $51.88 $107,920
Alaska 500 1.57 0.75 $49.69 $103,360





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)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 30,840 15.57 7.45 $46.76 $97,260
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 10,070 2.15 1.03 $43.72 $90,940
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,570 1.53 0.73 $50.79 $105,640
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 9,120 3.26 1.56 $49.40 $102,740
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 8,760 2.87 1.37 $51.83 $107,800
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 8,370 0.87 0.41 $47.44 $98,670
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,420 2.23 1.07 $44.27 $92,090
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,030 1.65 0.79 $50.58 $105,200
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 5,920 3.00 1.44 $43.11 $89,660
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,310 1.67 0.80 $56.83 $118,200




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)
Columbus, IN 1,030 20.18 9.66 $45.43 $94,500
California-Lexington Park, MD 750 15.80 7.56 $46.66 $97,060
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 30,840 15.57 7.45 $46.76 $97,260
Jackson, MI 760 13.64 6.53 $39.14 $81,410
Ann Arbor, MI 2,460 10.99 5.26 $46.87 $97,490
Dubuque, IA 610 10.39 4.97 $45.03 $93,660
New Bern, NC 360 8.31 3.97 $37.94 $78,920
York-Hanover, PA 1,370 7.50 3.59 $38.19 $79,440
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 4,170 7.35 3.52 $37.25 $77,490
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 350 6.99 3.35 $43.92 $91,340




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 4,920 4.31 2.06 $60.40 $125,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,460 1.40 0.67 $59.26 $123,270
Lake Charles, LA 110 0.98 0.47 $58.15 $120,950
Albuquerque, NM 1,030 2.62 1.25 $57.92 $120,470
Midland, TX 250 2.26 1.08 $57.60 $119,800
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 440 2.76 1.32 $56.89 $118,330
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 570 2.54 1.22 $56.89 $118,330
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,310 1.67 0.80 $56.83 $118,200
Santa Rosa, CA 210 1.02 0.49 $53.55 $111,380
Kennewick-Richland, WA 320 2.73 1.31 $53.32 $110,900

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 1,320 4.84 2.32 $35.19 $73,190
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,210 4.71 2.25 $33.57 $69,830
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 850 4.05 1.94 $36.14 $75,160
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) 810 2.43 1.16 $35.18 $73,180
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 700 3.72 1.78 $41.77 $86,880

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

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 380 7.79 3.73 $52.60 $109,410
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 1,320 4.84 2.32 $35.19 $73,190
Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 400 4.82 2.30 $38.20 $79,450
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,210 4.71 2.25 $33.57 $69,830
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 850 4.05 1.94 $36.14 $75,160

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 380 7.79 3.73 $52.60 $109,410
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 170 1.13 0.54 $48.07 $99,980
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 150 1.35 0.65 $46.94 $97,640
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 370 1.33 0.64 $46.63 $96,980
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 110 1.51 0.72 $46.37 $96,460


About May 2019 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2019 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2019 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2019 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: July 6, 2020