SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 17-3027.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $48,400 | $4,033 | $931 | $23.27 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $59,510 | $4,959 | $1,144 | $28.61 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $74,510 | $6,209 | $1,433 | $35.82 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $88,110 | $7,342 | $1,694 | $42.36 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $106,050 | $8,838 | $2,039 | $50.99 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians is $74,510, which is 46% higher. Among the 36 occupations of the field Architecture and Engineering, it ranks number 27 by median pay. With 36,190 jobs, it makes up about 2.3 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay by state
The highest median pay was in Louisiana ($102,800), New Mexico ($97,560) and Missouri ($92,150). The lowest was in West Virginia ($47,660), Puerto Rico ($51,860) and South Dakota ($53,670). The most jobs were in Michigan (4,930), California (3,660) and Texas (2,140). The occupation is most concentrated in Michigan, where its share of all jobs is 4.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 270 | $102,800 | $119,750 | $49.42 |
| New Mexico | 320 | $97,560 | $92,890 | $46.90 |
| Missouri | 800 | $92,150 | $91,740 | $44.30 |
| California | 3,660 | $87,390 | $91,570 | $42.02 |
| Connecticut | 350 | $82,660 | $81,540 | $39.74 |
| Rhode Island | 30 | $81,600 | $94,080 | $39.23 |
| Oregon | 260 | $80,840 | $78,990 | $38.86 |
| Nebraska | 250 | $80,050 | $78,670 | $38.49 |
| Washington | 890 | $79,410 | $86,940 | $38.18 |
| Maryland | 640 | $79,180 | $83,690 | $38.07 |
| Ohio | 1,800 | $78,500 | $75,150 | $37.74 |
| New York | 1,140 | $78,210 | $75,030 | $37.60 |
| Kentucky | 520 | $77,990 | $76,300 | $37.49 |
| Delaware | 50 | $77,820 | $75,980 | $37.41 |
| Indiana | 1,500 | $77,220 | $76,020 | $37.13 |
| Colorado | 330 | $77,090 | $79,240 | $37.06 |
| Illinois | 1,170 | $77,020 | $79,370 | $37.03 |
| Maine | 220 | $76,790 | $72,240 | $36.92 |
| Texas | 2,140 | $76,610 | $81,660 | $36.83 |
| North Dakota | 90 | $76,440 | $79,000 | $36.75 |
| Virginia | 670 | $75,650 | $73,100 | $36.37 |
| Georgia | 560 | $73,870 | $78,160 | $35.51 |
| Nevada | 420 | $72,950 | $76,890 | $35.07 |
| Arizona | 730 | $72,090 | $71,680 | $34.66 |
| Iowa | 500 | $71,670 | $78,060 | $34.46 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,620 | $70,820 | $73,860 | $34.05 |
| Mississippi | 220 | $70,570 | $70,330 | $33.93 |
| South Carolina | 1,290 | $69,580 | $72,340 | $33.45 |
| Idaho | 30 | $68,310 | $68,450 | $32.84 |
| Michigan | 4,930 | $68,170 | $71,510 | $32.77 |
| Wisconsin | 900 | $67,850 | $70,850 | $32.62 |
| New Hampshire | 570 | $66,740 | $70,080 | $32.09 |
| New Jersey | 260 | $65,180 | $70,140 | $31.34 |
| Minnesota | 400 | $63,990 | $67,350 | $30.77 |
| Massachusetts | 1,310 | $62,390 | $71,030 | $30.00 |
| North Carolina | 1,190 | $62,360 | $66,850 | $29.98 |
| Tennessee | 580 | $62,270 | $66,430 | $29.94 |
| Utah | 900 | $61,870 | $65,200 | $29.74 |
| Oklahoma | 490 | $61,480 | $68,160 | $29.56 |
| Alabama | 400 | $60,350 | $64,030 | $29.01 |
| Florida | 540 | $59,720 | $59,650 | $28.71 |
| Kansas | 410 | $55,390 | $67,860 | $26.63 |
| South Dakota | 110 | $53,670 | $57,580 | $25.80 |
| Puerto Rico | 70 | $51,860 | $56,270 | $24.93 |
| West Virginia | 200 | $47,660 | $55,060 | $22.91 |
| Alaska | 70 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190 a year
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters$76,870 a year
- Surveyors$75,440 a year
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$73,900 a year
- Mechanical Drafters$71,550 a year
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians$67,820 a year
Common questions
How much do Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn in the United States?
The median pay was $74,510 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,400 and the highest-paid 10% more than $106,050.
How many people work as Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians?
About 36,190 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.