Mechanical Engineering Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Design, analysis, and manufacturing of mechanical systems and thermal devices.
Starting Salary
$78K
median
Mid-Career
$110K
salary
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Mechanical Engineering Overview
Design, analysis, and manufacturing of mechanical systems and thermal devices.
Category
Engineering
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
65%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
10%
Lifetime Premium
$950K
Female Graduates
16%
Mechanical Engineering Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$21,600
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$21,600
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$928,400
Lifetime earnings premium ($950,000) minus net degree cost ($21,600)
Mechanical Engineering Salary Progression
Common Mechanical Engineering Careers
Mechanical Engineer
Design Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Mechanical Engineering
#1
MIT
#2
Stanford
#3
Georgia Tech
#4
University of Michigan
#5
Caltech
Related Majors
Mechanical Engineering Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Mechanical Engineering Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for mechanical engineering programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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