17
Mechanical Engineers is a notable career in the 17 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Mechanical Engineers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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13
| soc | 17-2141 |
| title | Mechanical Engineers |
| onet code | 17-2141.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 4 |
| major group | 17 |
| tot emp | 286,760 |
| a mean | 110,080 |
| a median | 102,320 |
| a pct10 | 68,740 |
| a pct25 | 81,800 |
| a pct75 | 130,290 |
| a pct90 | 161,240 |
| h mean | 52 |
| h median | 49 |
The day-to-day work of a mechanical engineers typically centers on read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Active Listening. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.70 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working mechanical engineers, the most common entry qualification is a Bachelor's Degree (52.3%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 52% of incumbents. Entry pathways are mixed; a meaningful minority enters without a four-year degree.
Median annual pay is highest in New Mexico at $141,490 and lowest in Arkansas at $78,570 — a 1.8× spread. The top five states (New Mexico, District of Columbia, Alaska, California, Massachusetts) average $130,104. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $141,490 | $135,530 | $84,080 | $177,480 | 1,690 |
| District of Columbia | $130,000 | $136,300 | $82,760 | $191,880 | 590 |
| Alaska | $129,990 | $120,920 | $75,980 | $159,970 | 530 |
| California | $126,370 | $131,130 | $77,360 | $188,660 | 27,090 |
| Massachusetts | $122,670 | $120,650 | $77,960 | $168,530 | 9,430 |
| Wyoming | $116,910 | $111,180 | $67,550 | $150,050 | 300 |
| Rhode Island | $115,270 | $122,900 | $79,730 | $186,150 | 1,400 |
| Louisiana | $114,050 | $117,410 | $70,710 | $172,320 | 1,650 |
| Maryland | $111,740 | $119,120 | $77,980 | $169,270 | 6,330 |
| Washington | $109,370 | $118,750 | $79,820 | $163,790 | 9,350 |
| Texas | $108,240 | $119,350 | $70,450 | $170,260 | 18,790 |
| Colorado | $108,060 | $120,890 | $76,180 | $176,300 | 6,850 |
| New Jersey | $107,020 | $112,560 | $72,440 | $159,010 | 4,440 |
| Connecticut | $106,600 | $112,460 | $78,170 | $155,570 | 5,310 |
| Delaware | $106,020 | $114,420 | $76,950 | $172,340 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $105,360 | $107,690 | $67,210 | $148,720 | 5,060 |
| New York | $105,130 | $114,910 | $74,630 | $169,710 | 8,420 |
| New Hampshire | $103,890 | $109,960 | $72,400 | $157,810 | 2,580 |
| Idaho | $103,660 | $108,170 | $63,980 | $136,590 | 970 |
| Michigan | $102,730 | $106,150 | $67,150 | $140,420 | 31,830 |
| Arizona | $102,510 | $109,580 | $73,010 | $161,770 | 5,440 |
| Maine | $101,500 | $104,660 | $70,180 | $131,870 | 940 |
| Oregon | $101,290 | $107,750 | $75,560 | $144,970 | 3,080 |
| North Carolina | $100,990 | $106,210 | $68,340 | $157,710 | 9,390 |
| West Virginia | $100,610 | $100,800 | $62,350 | $136,930 | 860 |
| Vermont | $100,520 | $105,090 | $76,780 | $140,140 | 530 |
| Illinois | $99,730 | $104,460 | $67,200 | $143,500 | 9,920 |
| Kentucky | $99,410 | $103,340 | $71,080 | $139,600 | 3,050 |
| Virginia | $99,350 | $105,240 | $61,300 | $155,030 | 7,960 |
| Tennessee | $99,330 | $101,260 | $47,000 | $142,230 | 3,680 |
| Montana | $99,250 | $100,100 | $63,750 | $131,040 | 580 |
| Indiana | $99,200 | $103,430 | $64,770 | $137,990 | 8,650 |
| Utah | $99,050 | $102,810 | $69,750 | $136,440 | 3,540 |
| Minnesota | $98,980 | $105,650 | $69,290 | $143,080 | 5,970 |
| Nevada | $98,110 | $104,090 | $67,490 | $152,540 | 1,090 |
| Iowa | $97,570 | $99,070 | $64,900 | $133,850 | 4,230 |
| Alabama | $97,550 | $106,090 | $65,530 | $159,030 | 5,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 | $103,660 | $65,340 | $148,120 | 14,300 |
| Florida | $97,190 | $101,870 | $61,270 | $148,510 | 8,860 |
| Georgia | $96,820 | $108,100 | $66,940 | $150,100 | 5,180 |
| Ohio | $96,330 | $97,970 | $63,740 | $135,200 | 16,420 |
| Hawaii | $95,250 | $101,040 | $74,180 | $132,950 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $94,820 | $97,360 | $66,180 | $130,990 | 8,060 |
| Missouri | $91,890 | $95,250 | $63,210 | $131,750 | 3,950 |
| Kansas | $91,770 | $94,780 | $66,450 | $132,630 | 4,120 |
| Mississippi | $90,730 | $96,510 | $60,440 | $135,760 | 1,210 |
| South Dakota | $90,590 | $96,180 | $70,510 | $128,810 | 680 |
| Oklahoma | $90,510 | $98,530 | $70,140 | $136,020 | 2,250 |
| North Dakota | $84,020 | $92,000 | $53,190 | $132,410 | 770 |
| Nebraska | $82,510 | $90,490 | $62,130 | $129,290 | 860 |
| Arkansas | $78,570 | $84,370 | $53,970 | $122,250 | 1,150 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for mechanical engineers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer) or Application Engineer frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Mechanical Engineers compares to others in the 17 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Mechanical Engineers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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