Salaries in Mechanical Engineering

Compensation in Mechanical Engineering, 4th Edition - 2005

PUBLISHED: September 2005

Summary of the 572-page Compensation in Mechanical Engineering, 4th Edition - 2005 survey report from Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc.  The following describes the national median total cash compensation for 11 benchmark jobs.

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The median annual income reported in a recent survey of the compensation of mechanical engineers was $88,000, with 10% making under $55,000 and 10% making over $139,731, according to Dr. Steven Langer, President of Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc., Crete, IL. The composite highest-income practitioner in this field (salary plus cash bonus and/or cash profit sharing) is the President "B" (having little or no financial interest in an organization) with a median income of $160,000. Far toward the other end of the income spectrum, Junior Engineers have a median annual income of $52,000.

E-mail invitations to participate in the survey were sent to members of ASME. Usable responses were received from 8,999 individuals. The results are contained in the in-depth, 572-page survey report and findpay program, Compensation in Mechanical Engineering, 4th Edition - 2005, sponsored by ASME. The report is available for $495.00 through our On-Line Order Form or from Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc., Dept. NET, 548 First St., Crete, IL 60417; telephone 708/672-4200; fax 708/672-4674.

Now, we also offer a findpay program to locate and analyze all the information from the 572-page printed report and more quickly and easily on your Windows computer for $990.00. With the findpay software, you can analyze all the survey results, or produce results unavailable in the printed report. Computer software can only be returned for exchange if defective, but you can download and review a free working demo of the findpay program (limited to a single variable at a time) with all the data from the recent survey here.

The middle-50% total cash compensation of some of the 37 jobs included in the survey report are:

Income data are reported by region, state, and metropolitan area; type of employer; number of employees in organization; type of employer vs. number of employees; primary job function; level of education; primary area of education; level of education vs. primary area of education; total years of engineering experience; education vs. experience with engineering as primary area of education; education vs. experience with scientific/technical as primary area of education; principal engineering specialty; registration status; supervisory responsibility; gender; and ethnic origin.

The highest median incomes by city are found in West Jersey (NJ), Anchorage, San Jose, Gainesville, the Virginia suburbs of Washington (DC), and the San Fernando Valley (all between $110,000 and $105,500). The lowest median annual incomes are found in Little Rock, San Juan (PR), Modesto/Stockton/Fresno, Lima/Findley (OH), Des Moines, and Honolulu (all between $58,000 and $70,000).

Compensation varies considerably from one type of employer to another. Median incomes are highest in hospitality organizations ($120,500), financial organizations ($119,811), in petroleum/coal/natural gas extraction and refining firms ($113,300), and for independent consultants ($100,000); and lowest in merchandising firms ($65,000), firms manufacturing heating/air conditioning/refrigeration products ($69,000), printing firms ($70,000), and firms manufacturing wood and wood products ($72,000).

By principal engineering specialty, the highest median incomes are found in information storage and processing systems ($127,000), petroleum ($120,000), management ($110,000), and nuclear engineering ($105,000). The lowest are found in solid waste processing ($75,000), manufacturing engineering ($76,000), design engineering ($77,432), nanotechnology ($80,250), and teaching/training ($82,000).

When level of education is taken into account, mechanical engineers with a doctoral degree earn a median annual income of $103,000, 29% higher than those who attended college but did not receive a bachelor's degree ($80,000).

Mechanical engineers with under one year of total engineering experience have a median income of $50,250, under one-half (47%) that of the 25-plus-year veteran ($107,000).

Those mechanical engineers with no supervisory responsibility have a median income of $78,000. For those supervising 250 or more professional & sub-professional employees, it is $167,000.

the 572-page survey report, Compensation in Mechanical Engineering, 4th Edition - 2005, described on this page for $495, with charges for shipping & handling (and IL sales tax, if applicable). The report is IN STOCK and can be shipped out within two business days. The mean, median, 1st and 3rd quartile, and 1st and 9th decile data for base salary, and total annual cash compensation are reported for many demographic variables, including education, experience, geographic location, type and size of employer, etc. To purchase the report, use our On-Line Order Form, call 708/672-4200, email, fax, or write per the information at the bottom of this page.