{"data_version":"1.0","generated_from":"2026-10-08","license":"Free to reuse with attribution: cite \"EducationGuide.com\" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0). O*NET data: CC BY 4.0, O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA).","url":"https://educationguide.com/careers/mechanical-engineers","ids":{"soc_2018":"17-2141","slug":"mechanical-engineers"},"soc":"17-2141","slug":"mechanical-engineers","title":"Mechanical Engineers","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.","wage":{"median":104110,"p10":73990,"p25":84130,"p75":132590,"p90":164340,"mean":113610,"jobs":296810,"year":"May 2025"},"states":{"AK":124340,"AL":100230,"AR":80180,"AZ":100270,"CA":130900,"CO":124430,"CT":105090,"DC":133300,"DE":125130,"FL":99980,"GA":100620,"GU":61510,"HI":98740,"IA":97700,"ID":93190,"IL":102680,"IN":99590,"KS":86260,"KY":101050,"LA":119540,"MA":119300,"MD":122870,"ME":102430,"MI":104890,"MN":99140,"MO":99330,"MS":98000,"MT":94190,"NC":100720,"ND":86330,"NE":88060,"NH":103660,"NJ":112300,"NM":157710,"NV":102680,"NY":102440,"OH":99100,"OK":101850,"OR":103470,"PA":97920,"PR":72240,"RI":116230,"SC":104580,"SD":88380,"TN":99550,"TX":112410,"UT":102500,"VA":104180,"VT":107330,"WA":110430,"WI":95870,"WV":97390,"WY":117750},"metros":{"CA":[{"name":"Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim","wage":123900,"jobs":8780},{"name":"San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara","wage":168030,"jobs":5540},{"name":"San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont","wage":161370,"jobs":5150},{"name":"San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad","wage":121750,"jobs":3370},{"name":"Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom","wage":120970,"jobs":1480},{"name":"Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario","wage":104910,"jobs":1420},{"name":"Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura","wage":117380,"jobs":950},{"name":"Bakersfield-Delano","wage":119790,"jobs":560}],"VA":[{"name":"Washington-Arlington-Alexandria","wage":126990,"jobs":5390},{"name":"Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk","wage":100280,"jobs":2210},{"name":"Richmond","wage":104130,"jobs":640},{"name":"Roanoke","wage":102160,"jobs":280},{"name":"Kingsport-Bristol","wage":94560,"jobs":240},{"name":"Lynchburg","wage":94630,"jobs":200},{"name":"Staunton-Stuarts Draft","wage":84370,"jobs":190},{"name":"Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford","wage":98400,"jobs":170}],"FL":[{"name":"Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach","wage":99660,"jobs":2000},{"name":"Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford","wage":103380,"jobs":1720},{"name":"Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville","wage":102630,"jobs":1440},{"name":"Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater","wage":100290,"jobs":1220},{"name":"Jacksonville","wage":99500,"jobs":1210},{"name":"Panama City-Panama City Beach","wage":102610,"jobs":410},{"name":"Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin","wage":106560,"jobs":250},{"name":"Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent","wage":100700,"jobs":250}]},"outlook":{"jobs2025":298.5,"jobs2035":332,"growth":11.2,"openings_k":17.8,"entry":"Bachelor's degree","experience":"None","training":"None"},"jobZone":4,"education":{"hs_or_less":0.013,"some_college_or_associate":0.459,"bachelors":0.523,"graduate":0.005},"interests":{"scores":{"R":6.39,"I":5.12,"A":2.02,"S":1.22,"E":1.97,"C":4.83},"code":"RIC"},"skills":["Reading Comprehension","Active Listening","Critical Thinking","Mathematics","Science"],"knowledge":["Design","Engineering and Technology","Production and Processing","Mechanical","English Language"],"workStyles":["Attention to Detail","Dependability","Innovation","Cautiousness","Intellectual Curiosity"],"young":{"workers_n":5418,"baPlusShare":0.9176,"medianAll":94418,"medianBa":94961,"years":"2020-2024","ages":"25-34"},"fields":[{"fod1p":"2414","label":"Mechanical Engineering","share":0.5695,"degrees":[{"slug":"mechanical-engineering","name":"Mechanical Engineering"}]},{"fod1p":"2400","label":"General Engineering","share":0.057,"degrees":[{"slug":"engineering","name":"Engineering"}]},{"fod1p":"2408","label":"Electrical Engineering","share":0.0434,"degrees":[{"slug":"electrical-engineering","name":"Electrical Engineering"}]},{"fod1p":"2401","label":"Aerospace Engineering","share":0.0225,"degrees":[{"slug":"aerospace-aeronautical-and-astronautical-space-engineering","name":"Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical / Space Engineering"}]},{"fod1p":"2405","label":"Chemical Engineering","share":0.0181,"degrees":[{"slug":"chemical-engineering","name":"Chemical Engineering"}]},{"fod1p":"2412","label":"Industrial And Manufacturing Engineering","share":0.0176,"degrees":[{"slug":"industrial-engineering","name":"Industrial Engineering"}]},{"fod1p":"2504","label":"Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies","share":0.017,"degrees":[{"slug":"mechanical-engineering-related-technologies-technicians","name":"Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies / Technicians"}]},{"fod1p":"6200","label":"General Business","share":0.0123,"degrees":[{"slug":"business","name":"Business"}]},{"fod1p":"6203","label":"Business Management And Administration","share":0.0121,"degrees":[{"slug":"business-administration","name":"Business Administration"}]},{"fod1p":"2499","label":"Miscellaneous Engineering","share":0.0112,"degrees":[]}],"sources":{"wage":"BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 (U.S., states, metro areas)","outlook":"BLS Employment Projections 2025-35","onet":"O*NET 31.0: description, job zone, required education (worker survey), interests, skills, knowledge, work styles","young":"Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year microdata: employed ages 25-34 with at least a high school diploma; share with a bachelor's+, median earnings (not enrolled, earnings > 0), fields of bachelor's degree (EducationGuide calculation)"},"methodology":"https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#careers"}