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Best states for a mechanical research engineer
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Mechanical research engineer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for mechanical research engineers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for mechanical research engineers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of mechanical research engineers in America is $118,000.
California is the best state for jobs for mechanical research engineers, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in California is $112,936, while the median pay in Arkansas is $55,953.We found that California is the best state for mechanical research engineer jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for mechanical research engineers in 2026
1. California
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 10,847 Average annual salary: $112,936 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.81
2. Arizona
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 1,400 Average annual salary: $95,971 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Texas
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 3,779 Average annual salary: $92,520 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
4. District of Columbia
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 384 Average annual salary: $97,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Massachusetts
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 1,645 Average annual salary: $97,522 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
6. Nevada
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 353 Average annual salary: $94,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
7. Maryland
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 1,178 Average annual salary: $97,925 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. Illinois
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 2,296 Average annual salary: $89,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
9. Washington
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 1,555 Average annual salary: $89,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
10. New York
Total mechanical research engineer jobs: 1,855 Average annual salary: $105,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
Mechanical research engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mechanical research engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mechanical research engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $112,936 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 10,847 |
| 2 | Arizona | $95,971 | $68,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,400 |
| 3 | Texas | $92,520 | $67,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,779 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $97,100 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 384 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $97,522 | $74,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,645 |
| 6 | Nevada | $94,745 | $66,000 | 2,998,039 | 353 |
| 7 | Maryland | $97,925 | $73,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,178 |
| 8 | Illinois | $89,118 | $67,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,296 |
| 9 | Washington | $89,472 | $63,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,555 |
| 10 | New York | $105,976 | $79,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,855 |
| 11 | Michigan | $84,262 | $63,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,648 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $89,122 | $66,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,644 |
| 13 | Oregon | $82,563 | $58,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,393 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $82,604 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 399 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $80,808 | $60,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,295 |
| 16 | Indiana | $86,751 | $65,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,082 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $81,729 | $62,000 | 1,059,639 | 251 |
| 18 | Virginia | $81,262 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,418 |
| 19 | Ohio | $80,606 | $60,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,743 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $76,695 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 438 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $80,962 | $60,000 | 1,815,857 | 215 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $79,478 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 716 |
| 23 | Delaware | $77,811 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 271 |
| 24 | Colorado | $76,833 | $57,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,646 |
| 25 | Florida | $78,244 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,696 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $73,126 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,526 |
| 27 | Maine | $76,517 | $59,000 | 1,335,907 | 206 |
| 28 | Alaska | $82,393 | $66,000 | 739,795 | 68 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $76,919 | $56,000 | 4,684,333 | 363 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $72,093 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,781 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $76,269 | $57,000 | 4,454,189 | 402 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $72,443 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 956 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $73,234 | $55,000 | 6,715,984 | 803 |
| 34 | Vermont | $70,078 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 177 |
| 35 | Idaho | $73,187 | $52,000 | 1,716,943 | 268 |
| 36 | Georgia | $71,505 | $53,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,842 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $70,598 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 152 |
| 38 | Utah | $65,946 | $47,000 | 3,101,833 | 716 |
| 39 | Alabama | $70,241 | $52,000 | 4,874,747 | 627 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $66,955 | $50,000 | 1,920,076 | 410 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $69,510 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 385 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $65,027 | $48,000 | 579,315 | 115 |
| 43 | Kansas | $67,671 | $51,000 | 2,913,123 | 472 |
| 44 | Iowa | $66,805 | $50,000 | 3,145,711 | 551 |
| 45 | Missouri | $66,274 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 996 |
| 46 | Montana | $62,777 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 217 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $64,351 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 149 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $67,038 | $50,000 | 5,024,369 | 496 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $64,324 | $48,000 | 869,666 | 132 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $61,915 | $45,000 | 2,984,100 | 197 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $55,953 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 305 |
Highest paying states for mechanical research engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Mechanical Research Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $112,936 |
| 2 | Arizona | $95,971 |
| 3 | Texas | $92,520 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $97,100 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $97,522 |
| 6 | Nevada | $94,745 |
| 7 | Maryland | $97,925 |
| 8 | Illinois | $89,118 |
| 9 | Washington | $89,472 |
| 10 | New York | $105,976 |
| 11 | Michigan | $84,262 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $89,122 |
| 13 | Oregon | $82,563 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $82,604 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $80,808 |
| 16 | Indiana | $86,751 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $81,729 |
| 18 | Virginia | $81,262 |
| 19 | Ohio | $80,606 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $76,695 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $80,962 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $79,478 |
| 23 | Delaware | $77,811 |
| 24 | Colorado | $76,833 |
| 25 | Florida | $78,244 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $73,126 |
| 27 | Maine | $76,517 |
| 28 | Alaska | $82,393 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $76,919 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $72,093 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $76,269 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $72,443 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $73,234 |
| 34 | Vermont | $70,078 |
| 35 | Idaho | $73,187 |
| 36 | Georgia | $71,505 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $70,598 |
| 38 | Utah | $65,946 |
| 39 | Alabama | $70,241 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $66,955 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $69,510 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $65,027 |
| 43 | Kansas | $67,671 |
| 44 | Iowa | $66,805 |
| 45 | Missouri | $66,274 |
| 46 | Montana | $62,777 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $64,351 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $67,038 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $64,324 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $61,915 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $55,953 |
Mechanical research engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025