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Best states for a mechanical development engineer
Quoted expert
Andy Gerrick
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Are you thinking of becoming a mechanical development engineer and really want to work at Cummins? Turns out, your chances to become a mechanical development engineer are better in some states than others.Our research found that California is the best state for mechanical development engineers, while California and New Mexico are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $118,958 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for mechanical development engineers.
The median salary for mechanical development engineers in California is $118,958. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $72,806, which ranked worst for mechanical development engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for mechanical development engineer jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.
10 best states for mechanical development engineers in 2025
1. California
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 8,820 Average annual salary: $118,958 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.392. New Mexico
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 524 Average annual salary: $109,171 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 1.233. Texas
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 5,491 Average annual salary: $105,661 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.254. Washington
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 3,650 Average annual salary: $106,584 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 2.315. Oregon
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 999 Average annual salary: $108,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 1.116. Massachusetts
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 2,073 Average annual salary: $100,141 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.047. Nevada
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 448 Average annual salary: $99,307 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.998. Michigan
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 1,799 Average annual salary: $93,674 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.079. Georgia
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 2,278 Average annual salary: $97,829 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.0210. Alaska
Total mechanical development engineer jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $97,267 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Mechanical development engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mechanical development engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mechanical development engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,958 | $87,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,820 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $109,171 | $82,000 | 2,088,070 | 524 |
| 3 | Texas | $105,661 | $80,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,491 |
| 4 | Washington | $106,584 | $80,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,650 |
| 5 | Oregon | $108,199 | $80,000 | 4,142,776 | 999 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $100,141 | $76,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,073 |
| 7 | Nevada | $99,307 | $73,000 | 2,998,039 | 448 |
| 8 | Michigan | $93,674 | $73,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,799 |
| 9 | Georgia | $97,829 | $76,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,278 |
| 10 | Alaska | $97,267 | $82,000 | 739,795 | 184 |
| 11 | Arizona | $90,693 | $68,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,701 |
| 12 | Idaho | $102,036 | $76,000 | 1,716,943 | 229 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $98,527 | $76,000 | 693,972 | 382 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $84,857 | $65,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,629 |
| 15 | Delaware | $96,458 | $74,000 | 961,939 | 197 |
| 16 | Maryland | $98,733 | $76,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,064 |
| 17 | Alabama | $85,731 | $66,000 | 4,874,747 | 873 |
| 18 | New York | $96,518 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,185 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $94,292 | $72,000 | 4,684,333 | 431 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $87,763 | $68,000 | 1,815,857 | 231 |
| 21 | Kansas | $83,153 | $64,000 | 2,913,123 | 625 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $80,175 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 178 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $85,961 | $66,000 | 1,342,795 | 301 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $81,856 | $64,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,909 |
| 25 | Montana | $81,845 | $61,000 | 1,050,493 | 301 |
| 26 | Utah | $83,837 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 583 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $90,333 | $69,000 | 3,588,184 | 500 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $83,991 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 202 |
| 29 | Virginia | $83,735 | $64,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,992 |
| 30 | Maine | $84,059 | $64,000 | 1,335,907 | 107 |
| 31 | Ohio | $78,208 | $60,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,007 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $88,458 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,029 |
| 33 | Indiana | $78,385 | $61,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,247 |
| 34 | Florida | $79,823 | $60,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,199 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $81,760 | $63,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,250 |
| 36 | Iowa | $78,100 | $61,000 | 3,145,711 | 655 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $74,179 | $58,000 | 755,393 | 227 |
| 38 | Colorado | $80,414 | $61,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,194 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $77,977 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 190 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $79,342 | $61,000 | 3,930,864 | 432 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $75,264 | $58,000 | 869,666 | 198 |
| 42 | Illinois | $81,558 | $63,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,479 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $76,218 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 968 |
| 44 | Missouri | $77,026 | $60,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,056 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $73,096 | $57,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,190 |
| 46 | Vermont | $77,752 | $60,000 | 623,657 | 129 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $70,850 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 492 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $74,108 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 760 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $73,589 | $57,000 | 4,454,189 | 566 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $68,769 | $53,000 | 3,004,279 | 496 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $72,806 | $56,000 | 2,984,100 | 273 |
Highest paying states for mechanical development engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Mechanical Development Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,958 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $109,171 |
| 3 | Texas | $105,661 |
| 4 | Washington | $106,584 |
| 5 | Oregon | $108,199 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $100,141 |
| 7 | Nevada | $99,307 |
| 8 | Michigan | $93,674 |
| 9 | Georgia | $97,829 |
| 10 | Alaska | $97,267 |
| 11 | Arizona | $90,693 |
| 12 | Idaho | $102,036 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $98,527 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $84,857 |
| 15 | Delaware | $96,458 |
| 16 | Maryland | $98,733 |
| 17 | Alabama | $85,731 |
| 18 | New York | $96,518 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $94,292 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $87,763 |
| 21 | Kansas | $83,153 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $80,175 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $85,961 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $81,856 |
| 25 | Montana | $81,845 |
| 26 | Utah | $83,837 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $90,333 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $83,991 |
| 29 | Virginia | $83,735 |
| 30 | Maine | $84,059 |
| 31 | Ohio | $78,208 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $88,458 |
| 33 | Indiana | $78,385 |
| 34 | Florida | $79,823 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $81,760 |
| 36 | Iowa | $78,100 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $74,179 |
| 38 | Colorado | $80,414 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $77,977 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $79,342 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $75,264 |
| 42 | Illinois | $81,558 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $76,218 |
| 44 | Missouri | $77,026 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $73,096 |
| 46 | Vermont | $77,752 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $70,850 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $74,108 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $73,589 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $68,769 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $72,806 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mechanical development engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mechanical development 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025