Mechanical Engineer Salary in District of Columbia

Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia have a median annual salary of $133,300, which works out to about $64.09 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $107,300 to $166,360, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

17-2141 · Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical Engineer pay in District of Columbia at a glance

Median annual salary

$133,300

Median hourly wage

$64.09/hr

Average annual salary

$138,500

Average hourly wage

$66.59/hr

25th percentile

$107,300

75th percentile

$166,360

10th percentile

$86,820

90th percentile

$195,190

People employed

510

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid mechanical engineer roles in District of Columbia.

10th percentile
$86,820
25th percentile
$107,300
Median percentile
$133,300
75th percentile
$166,360
90th percentile
$195,190

District of Columbia vs U.S. salary

The median salary for mechanical engineer roles in District of Columbia is about 28.0% above the U.S. median of $104,110 for the same occupation.

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How much does a mechanical engineer make in District of Columbia?

Half of mechanical engineer roles in District of Columbia report earning more than $133,300 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $138,500 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $107,300 and a quarter are above $166,360, so most mechanical engineer pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect mechanical engineer pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Mechanical Engineer pay in other states

Related jobs in District of Columbia

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.