Hiring a mechanical engineer: the market today
The short answer ·
1,422 open postings ask for a mechanical engineer as of Oct 8, 2026, from 231 employers. The median advertised pay is $131,482, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 794 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
1,422open postings
231employers hiring
$131,482median advertised pay
794new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-10-08
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 990 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Aug 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a mechanical engineer?
Hard. 231 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Lockheed Martin with 128 open postings.
What should I pay a mechanical engineer?
Advertised pay centers on $131,482. Federal staff in series 0830 average $136,737 in actual pay.