Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in the U.S.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $74,510 a year ($35.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 36,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,050 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $76,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| 25th percentile | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| Median | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| 75th percentile | $88,110 | $42.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,050 | $50.99 |
| Average (mean) | $76,380 | $36.72 |
Half of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,209.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,104.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,865.77 |
| Weekly | $1,432.88 |
| Hourly | $35.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $102,800 | 270 |
| New Mexico | $97,560 | 320 |
| Missouri | $92,150 | 800 |
| California | $87,390 | 3,660 |
| Connecticut | $82,660 | 350 |
| Rhode Island | $81,600 | 30 |
| Oregon | $80,840 | 260 |
| Nebraska | $80,050 | 250 |
| Washington | $79,410 | 890 |
| Maryland | $79,180 | 640 |
| Ohio | $78,500 | 1,800 |
| New York | $78,210 | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $77,990 | 520 |
| Delaware | $77,820 | 50 |
| Indiana | $77,220 | 1,500 |
| Colorado | $77,090 | 330 |
| Illinois | $77,020 | 1,170 |
| Maine | $76,790 | 220 |
| Texas | $76,610 | 2,140 |
| North Dakota | $76,440 | 90 |
| Virginia | $75,650 | 670 |
| Georgia | $73,870 | 560 |
| Nevada | $72,950 | 420 |
| Arizona | $72,090 | 730 |
| Iowa | $71,670 | 500 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,820 | 1,620 |
| Mississippi | $70,570 | 220 |
| South Carolina | $69,580 | 1,290 |
| Idaho | $68,310 | 30 |
| Michigan | $68,170 | 4,930 |
| Wisconsin | $67,850 | 900 |
| New Hampshire | $66,740 | 570 |
| New Jersey | $65,180 | 260 |
| Minnesota | $63,990 | 400 |
| Massachusetts | $62,390 | 1,310 |
| North Carolina | $62,360 | 1,190 |
| Tennessee | $62,270 | 580 |
| Utah | $61,870 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $61,480 | 490 |
| Alabama | $60,350 | 400 |
| Florida | $59,720 | 540 |
| Kansas | $55,390 | 410 |
| South Dakota | $53,670 | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,860 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $47,660 | 200 |
Best-paying metro areas for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $126,230 | 90 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $119,630 | 90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $110,030 | 90 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $109,470 | 80 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $105,160 | 110 |
| Peoria, IL | $102,610 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $100,620 | 790 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $100,150 | 600 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $98,440 | 180 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $97,300 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $96,680 | 530 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $96,610 | 240 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,960 | 30 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $91,450 | 1,030 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $85,830 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,140 | $69,490 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,220 | $79,080 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,090 | $62,390 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,030 | $91,450 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 790 | $100,620 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 600 | $100,150 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 540 | $73,400 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 530 | $96,680 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 520 | $80,860 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 490 | $60,480 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 420 | $60,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 420 | $72,690 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 400 | $80,120 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 400 | $77,580 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 390 | $69,580 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $54,240 | $26.08 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $71,550 | $34.40 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Drafters, All Other | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3027. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in the U.S.?
The median salary for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in the U.S. is $74,510 a year, or $35.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in the U.S. earn at least $106,050 a year. The top 25% earn $88,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,400 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians earn $59,510 or less.
How many mechanical engineering technologists and technicians work in the U.S.?
About 36,190 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.