Mechanical Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Mechanical Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $126,990 a year ($61.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 5% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $133,300. There are 1.7 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $133,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,760 | $41.23 |
| 25th percentile | $100,800 | $48.46 |
| Median | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| 75th percentile | $160,230 | $77.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $133,380 | $64.12 |
Half of mechanical engineers 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 | $10,582.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,291.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,884.23 |
| Weekly | $2,442.12 |
| Hourly | $61.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $127,650 | 670 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $116,700 | 3,050 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $109,370 | 70 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $106,130 | 170 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $104,840 | 340 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $104,410 | 4,850 |
| Richmond, VA | $104,130 | 640 |
| Roanoke, VA | $102,160 | 280 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $100,380 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,280 | 2,210 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $98,400 | 170 |
| Charleston, WV | $98,050 | 60 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $95,900 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $95,850 | 160 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $94,630 | 200 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $94,560 | 240 |
| Morgantown, WV | $86,270 | 40 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $84,370 | 190 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $79,300 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical Engineer pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| Environmental Engineer | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2141. 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 engineer make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $126,990 a year, or $61.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $160,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,760 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $100,800 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 5,390 mechanical engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.