How much does an engineer make?
a year · about $59 an hour
A typical engineer in the United States makes $122,930 a year, about $59 an hour, about 2.4× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A robotics engineer, one specialty in this broad group, might review a design and build or test a robot. They check sensor results, debug its program, and record changes.
Did you know? The “All Other” group includes robotics, photonics, and nanosystems engineers, plus separate wind- and solar-energy engineering specialties.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $66,810 and $189,950How do you become one?
In the U.S., many start work in their early 20s after a related engineering bachelor's degree; internships help. If a job needs a PE license, the usual path is an accredited degree, the FE exam, about four years of experience, and the PE exam.
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., more experience, useful licenses, and hard-to-find skills in a specialty can lead to higher pay; pay also changes with location, employer, or industry. Hours and responsibility can matter too, while skill usually matters more than fame.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New Mexico ($162,070), lowest in Kansas ($76,100).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a engineer averages $40,796. Engineer salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $66,810 | $122,930 | $189,950 | about 154,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $162,070 | about 2,000 |
| Alabama | $152,550 | about 3,000 |
| District of Columbia | $151,920 | about 4,000 |
| Virginia | $148,160 | about 5,000 |
| Washington | $134,570 | about 4,000 |
Official definition: All engineers not listed separately. Excludes “Sales Engineers” (41-9031), “Locomotive Engineers” (53-4011), and “Ship Engineers” (53-5031).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2199.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2199.08
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/article/engineers.htm?view_full
- ncees.org/engineering/engineering-licensure
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes172199.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY