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Best states for a mechanical engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like mechanical engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for mechanical engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for mechanical engineers -- where there are plenty of mechanical engineer jobs to go around and mechanical engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for mechanical engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a mechanical engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for mechanical engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 1,648 Average annual salary: $90,626 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
2. Oregon
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 1,003 Average annual salary: $84,644 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
3. Massachusetts
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 1,816 Average annual salary: $86,527 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
4. California
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 8,253 Average annual salary: $88,872 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
5. Idaho
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $89,318 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
6. New Mexico
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $86,101 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
7. Arizona
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 1,105 Average annual salary: $79,627 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
8. New Hampshire
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 326 Average annual salary: $79,312 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
9. Nevada
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 273 Average annual salary: $82,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
10. District of Columbia
Total mechanical engineer jobs: 382 Average annual salary: $87,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
Mechanical engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mechanical engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mechanical engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $90,626 | $69,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,648 |
| 2 | Oregon | $84,644 | $64,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,003 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,527 | $67,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,816 |
| 4 | California | $88,872 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,253 |
| 5 | Idaho | $89,318 | $67,000 | 1,716,943 | 223 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $86,101 | $65,000 | 2,088,070 | 282 |
| 7 | Arizona | $79,627 | $61,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,105 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $79,312 | $61,000 | 1,342,795 | 326 |
| 9 | Nevada | $82,625 | $62,000 | 2,998,039 | 273 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $87,019 | $68,000 | 693,972 | 382 |
| 11 | Texas | $79,901 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,193 |
| 12 | Delaware | $79,913 | $62,000 | 961,939 | 215 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $78,630 | $61,000 | 1,059,639 | 188 |
| 14 | Maryland | $81,814 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,193 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $78,851 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 568 |
| 16 | Colorado | $78,006 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,211 |
| 17 | Utah | $76,175 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 572 |
| 18 | Maine | $81,837 | $63,000 | 1,335,907 | 115 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $81,441 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 243 |
| 20 | Virginia | $75,667 | $59,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,007 |
| 21 | New York | $78,640 | $61,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,019 |
| 22 | Michigan | $72,424 | $57,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,208 |
| 23 | Alaska | $79,016 | $67,000 | 739,795 | 78 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $74,065 | $58,000 | 6,715,984 | 514 |
| 25 | Illinois | $74,398 | $58,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,667 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $74,821 | $58,000 | 1,815,857 | 105 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $71,336 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,566 |
| 28 | Ohio | $69,924 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,424 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $74,107 | $57,000 | 3,930,864 | 248 |
| 30 | Alabama | $68,543 | $53,000 | 4,874,747 | 651 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $69,983 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,119 |
| 32 | Indiana | $69,800 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 796 |
| 33 | Montana | $72,506 | $55,000 | 1,050,493 | 127 |
| 34 | Georgia | $70,961 | $55,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,406 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $76,734 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 990 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $67,986 | $53,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,432 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $68,846 | $52,000 | 579,315 | 72 |
| 38 | Vermont | $68,245 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 123 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $68,608 | $53,000 | 5,024,369 | 563 |
| 40 | Iowa | $67,765 | $53,000 | 3,145,711 | 429 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $66,192 | $52,000 | 755,393 | 114 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $65,131 | $51,000 | 5,795,483 | 800 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $66,085 | $52,000 | 4,454,189 | 325 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $65,692 | $51,000 | 1,920,076 | 284 |
| 45 | Kansas | $65,737 | $51,000 | 2,913,123 | 362 |
| 46 | Missouri | $67,239 | $53,000 | 6,113,532 | 633 |
| 47 | Florida | $65,658 | $48,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,795 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $65,186 | $53,000 | 1,427,538 | 93 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $64,475 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 148 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $60,121 | $47,000 | 3,004,279 | 257 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $62,658 | $49,000 | 869,666 | 73 |
Highest paying states for mechanical engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Mechanical Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $90,626 |
| 2 | Oregon | $84,644 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,527 |
| 4 | California | $88,872 |
| 5 | Idaho | $89,318 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $86,101 |
| 7 | Arizona | $79,627 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $79,312 |
| 9 | Nevada | $82,625 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $87,019 |
| 11 | Texas | $79,901 |
| 12 | Delaware | $79,913 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $78,630 |
| 14 | Maryland | $81,814 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $78,851 |
| 16 | Colorado | $78,006 |
| 17 | Utah | $76,175 |
| 18 | Maine | $81,837 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $81,441 |
| 20 | Virginia | $75,667 |
| 21 | New York | $78,640 |
| 22 | Michigan | $72,424 |
| 23 | Alaska | $79,016 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $74,065 |
| 25 | Illinois | $74,398 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $74,821 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $71,336 |
| 28 | Ohio | $69,924 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $74,107 |
| 30 | Alabama | $68,543 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $69,983 |
| 32 | Indiana | $69,800 |
| 33 | Montana | $72,506 |
| 34 | Georgia | $70,961 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $76,734 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $67,986 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $68,846 |
| 38 | Vermont | $68,245 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $68,608 |
| 40 | Iowa | $67,765 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $66,192 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $65,131 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $66,085 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $65,692 |
| 45 | Kansas | $65,737 |
| 46 | Missouri | $67,239 |
| 47 | Florida | $65,658 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $65,186 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $64,475 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $60,121 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $62,658 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mechanical engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mechanical engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
Mechanical engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025