Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a lead mechanical design engineer
Quoted expert
Andy Gerrick
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Lead mechanical design engineer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for lead mechanical design engineers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for lead mechanical design engineers.Our research found that Virginia is the best state for lead mechanical design engineers, while Virginia and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Virginia has a median salary of $95,598 and Virginia has the highest median salary among all 50 states for lead mechanical design engineers.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for lead mechanical design engineers. Virginia is the best state for lead mechanical design engineers, where the median salary is $95,598.If you are currently seeking employment as a lead mechanical design engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for lead mechanical design engineers in 2026
1. Virginia
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 1,671 Average annual salary: $95,598 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 2.42
2. New Mexico
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $91,648 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0
3. Washington
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $91,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0
4. California
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 8,634 Average annual salary: $92,827 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 4.03
5. Massachusetts
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0
6. Maryland
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 1,133 Average annual salary: $87,914 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 2.44
7. Alabama
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $83,122 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. South Carolina
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $83,604 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. Delaware
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,311 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0
10. Colorado
Total lead mechanical design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,840 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0
Lead mechanical design engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead mechanical design engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead mechanical design engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $95,598 | $75,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,671 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $91,648 | $71,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 3 | Washington | $91,528 | $69,000 | 7,405,743 | 0 |
| 4 | California | $92,827 | $70,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,634 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $88,528 | $70,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 6 | Maryland | $87,914 | $69,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,133 |
| 7 | Alabama | $83,122 | $66,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $83,604 | $66,000 | 5,024,369 | 0 |
| 9 | Delaware | $85,311 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 10 | Colorado | $85,840 | $67,000 | 5,607,154 | 0 |
| 11 | Idaho | $82,179 | $62,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 12 | Arizona | $81,036 | $62,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,113 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $79,480 | $63,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $83,196 | $66,000 | 5,576,606 | 0 |
| 15 | Illinois | $83,462 | $66,000 | 12,802,023 | 0 |
| 16 | New York | $85,320 | $67,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,818 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $81,072 | $63,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 18 | Oregon | $83,338 | $63,000 | 4,142,776 | 0 |
| 19 | Alaska | $82,678 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
| 20 | Nevada | $79,207 | $59,000 | 2,998,039 | 0 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $87,940 | $69,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $77,942 | $61,000 | 10,273,419 | 0 |
| 23 | Ohio | $74,767 | $59,000 | 11,658,609 | 0 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $74,399 | $59,000 | 3,930,864 | 484 |
| 25 | Texas | $76,805 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,807 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $74,678 | $59,000 | 5,795,483 | 0 |
| 27 | Missouri | $74,917 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 0 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $78,484 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $78,510 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 0 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $74,025 | $58,000 | 1,342,795 | 262 |
| 31 | Michigan | $73,498 | $58,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $77,954 | $67,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $72,658 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 34 | Maine | $71,818 | $57,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $69,256 | $55,000 | 6,715,984 | 0 |
| 36 | Iowa | $69,980 | $56,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $69,452 | $54,000 | 12,805,537 | 0 |
| 38 | Utah | $67,380 | $51,000 | 3,101,833 | 977 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $68,480 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 0 |
| 40 | Indiana | $67,813 | $54,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $66,727 | $52,000 | 579,315 | 93 |
| 42 | Georgia | $68,619 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,368 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $65,553 | $52,000 | 869,666 | 174 |
| 44 | Florida | $69,082 | $53,000 | 20,984,400 | 0 |
| 45 | Montana | $65,428 | $50,000 | 1,050,493 | 272 |
| 46 | Vermont | $66,871 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $64,214 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 108 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $64,332 | $50,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $62,903 | $50,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $61,781 | $49,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
| 51 | Kansas | $60,696 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
Highest paying states for lead mechanical design engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Mechanical Design Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $95,598 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $91,648 |
| 3 | Washington | $91,528 |
| 4 | California | $92,827 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $88,528 |
| 6 | Maryland | $87,914 |
| 7 | Alabama | $83,122 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $83,604 |
| 9 | Delaware | $85,311 |
| 10 | Colorado | $85,840 |
| 11 | Idaho | $82,179 |
| 12 | Arizona | $81,036 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $79,480 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $83,196 |
| 15 | Illinois | $83,462 |
| 16 | New York | $85,320 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $81,072 |
| 18 | Oregon | $83,338 |
| 19 | Alaska | $82,678 |
| 20 | Nevada | $79,207 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $87,940 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $77,942 |
| 23 | Ohio | $74,767 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $74,399 |
| 25 | Texas | $76,805 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $74,678 |
| 27 | Missouri | $74,917 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $78,484 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $78,510 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $74,025 |
| 31 | Michigan | $73,498 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $77,954 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $72,658 |
| 34 | Maine | $71,818 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $69,256 |
| 36 | Iowa | $69,980 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $69,452 |
| 38 | Utah | $67,380 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $68,480 |
| 40 | Indiana | $67,813 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $66,727 |
| 42 | Georgia | $68,619 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $65,553 |
| 44 | Florida | $69,082 |
| 45 | Montana | $65,428 |
| 46 | Vermont | $66,871 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $64,214 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $64,332 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $62,903 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $61,781 |
| 51 | Kansas | $60,696 |
Expert opinions on the best states for lead mechanical design engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for lead mechanical design engineers to find work opportunities?
Andy Gerrick
Associate Professor and Chair, Embry-Riddle, Prescott
Mechanical engineering is the most general field of engineering. Any industry that designs or produces physical products, from toys to spacecraft, hires mechanical engineers. The aerospace industry, where I spent 35 years as a mechanical engineer, hires many more mechanical engineers than aerospace engineers.
Lead mechanical design engineer best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for lead mechanical design engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025