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Best states for a mechanical systems engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
It seems like mechanical systems engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for mechanical systems engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Although there are abundant mechanical systems engineer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Washington is the best state in the country for mechanical systems engineer jobs.
In order to get you the best states for mechanical systems engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Washington is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for mechanical systems engineers.
10 best states for mechanical systems engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 2,625 Average annual salary: $105,569 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
2. California
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 11,077 Average annual salary: $110,459 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. Oregon
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 1,361 Average annual salary: $102,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
4. New Mexico
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 540 Average annual salary: $100,589 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
5. Connecticut
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 846 Average annual salary: $90,880 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Delaware
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $89,883 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
7. Nevada
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 430 Average annual salary: $91,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
8. New Hampshire
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 481 Average annual salary: $84,947 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
9. Utah
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 936 Average annual salary: $83,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
10. Massachusetts
Total mechanical systems engineer jobs: 2,464 Average annual salary: $88,516 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Mechanical systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mechanical systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mechanical systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $105,569 | $76,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,625 |
| 2 | California | $110,459 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,077 |
| 3 | Oregon | $102,590 | $74,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,361 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $100,589 | $73,000 | 2,088,070 | 540 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $90,880 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 846 |
| 6 | Delaware | $89,883 | $68,000 | 961,939 | 296 |
| 7 | Nevada | $91,976 | $65,000 | 2,998,039 | 430 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $84,947 | $64,000 | 1,342,795 | 481 |
| 9 | Utah | $83,870 | $60,000 | 3,101,833 | 936 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $88,516 | $66,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,464 |
| 11 | Idaho | $88,063 | $63,000 | 1,716,943 | 336 |
| 12 | Alaska | $86,458 | $67,000 | 739,795 | 187 |
| 13 | Texas | $82,178 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,380 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $88,054 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 742 |
| 15 | Iowa | $84,841 | $65,000 | 3,145,711 | 658 |
| 16 | Alabama | $81,780 | $61,000 | 4,874,747 | 944 |
| 17 | Colorado | $81,967 | $60,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,044 |
| 18 | Maryland | $82,559 | $62,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,437 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $82,191 | $63,000 | 1,815,857 | 236 |
| 20 | Virginia | $79,159 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,908 |
| 21 | Georgia | $81,554 | $61,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,063 |
| 22 | Arizona | $78,095 | $57,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,791 |
| 23 | New York | $82,742 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,031 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $78,274 | $59,000 | 1,059,639 | 302 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $81,910 | $60,000 | 4,684,333 | 379 |
| 26 | Michigan | $76,249 | $59,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,890 |
| 27 | Illinois | $80,310 | $61,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,400 |
| 28 | Kansas | $77,626 | $59,000 | 2,913,123 | 573 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $80,566 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,630 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $75,456 | $57,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,405 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $77,850 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 819 |
| 32 | Maine | $78,391 | $59,000 | 1,335,907 | 218 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $71,881 | $52,000 | 579,315 | 162 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $75,295 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 780 |
| 35 | Indiana | $74,747 | $57,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,046 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $73,940 | $57,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,035 |
| 37 | Vermont | $72,088 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 216 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $72,162 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,092 |
| 39 | Ohio | $72,630 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,917 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $74,895 | $56,000 | 3,930,864 | 421 |
| 41 | Montana | $72,025 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 228 |
| 42 | Missouri | $72,435 | $55,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,011 |
| 43 | Florida | $70,530 | $51,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,390 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $67,856 | $52,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,590 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $66,888 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 209 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $68,339 | $52,000 | 869,666 | 179 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $69,397 | $53,000 | 4,454,189 | 439 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $69,012 | $51,000 | 2,984,100 | 301 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $63,519 | $48,000 | 1,920,076 | 458 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $67,641 | $57,000 | 1,427,538 | 129 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $60,139 | $45,000 | 3,004,279 | 374 |
Highest paying states for mechanical systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Mechanical Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $105,569 |
| 2 | California | $110,459 |
| 3 | Oregon | $102,590 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $100,589 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $90,880 |
| 6 | Delaware | $89,883 |
| 7 | Nevada | $91,976 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $84,947 |
| 9 | Utah | $83,870 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $88,516 |
| 11 | Idaho | $88,063 |
| 12 | Alaska | $86,458 |
| 13 | Texas | $82,178 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $88,054 |
| 15 | Iowa | $84,841 |
| 16 | Alabama | $81,780 |
| 17 | Colorado | $81,967 |
| 18 | Maryland | $82,559 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $82,191 |
| 20 | Virginia | $79,159 |
| 21 | Georgia | $81,554 |
| 22 | Arizona | $78,095 |
| 23 | New York | $82,742 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $78,274 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $81,910 |
| 26 | Michigan | $76,249 |
| 27 | Illinois | $80,310 |
| 28 | Kansas | $77,626 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $80,566 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $75,456 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $77,850 |
| 32 | Maine | $78,391 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $71,881 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $75,295 |
| 35 | Indiana | $74,747 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $73,940 |
| 37 | Vermont | $72,088 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $72,162 |
| 39 | Ohio | $72,630 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $74,895 |
| 41 | Montana | $72,025 |
| 42 | Missouri | $72,435 |
| 43 | Florida | $70,530 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $67,856 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $66,888 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $68,339 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $69,397 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $69,012 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $63,519 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $67,641 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $60,139 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mechanical systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mechanical systems 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 systems engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025