Salary by profession · US · 2026
Mechanical engineer salary in the US
What is the average mechanical engineer salary in the US?
The median US mechanical engineer earns about $99,000 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics), typically $76,000–$126,000. That's around $6,540 a month take-home in a no-tax state, and places the typical mechanical engineer in roughly the 82nd percentile of US earners — $45,990 above the median.
Verified 12 August 2026
Mechanical engineer pay and take-home
| Salary | Take-home, no-tax state | Take-home, California | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry / lower | $76,000 | $62,296 | $58,686 |
| Median | $99,000 | $78,477 | $72,727 |
| Experienced | $126,000 | $97,387 | $89,127 |
How mechanical engineers compare
The US median individual income is $53,010. At $99,000, the typical mechanical engineer earns $45,990 more — around the 82nd percentile of all earners. Aerospace, oil & gas and semiconductor sectors pay above the cross-industry median.
Location matters as much as the number. The same salary stretches far further in Texas than California. See what you'd keep in your city →