Mechanical Engineer salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Mechanical Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $125,350 a year ($60.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $198,730 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 12% higher than the Texas statewide median of $112,410. There are 2.5 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $133,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,470 | $38.21 |
| 25th percentile | $99,080 | $47.64 |
| Median | $125,350 | $60.27 |
| 75th percentile | $164,640 | $79.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $198,730 | $95.54 |
| Average (mean) | $133,040 | $63.96 |
Half of mechanical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,445.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,222.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,821.15 |
| Weekly | $2,410.58 |
| Hourly | $60.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $125,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $125,200 | 250 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $124,340 | 280 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $122,280 | 470 |
| Odessa, TX | $111,700 | 120 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $106,690 | 1,790 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $106,330 | 70 |
| Tyler, TX | $106,240 | 160 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,420 | 5,600 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $104,620 | 1,480 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $102,350 | 230 |
| Longview, TX | $100,230 | 230 |
| Abilene, TX | $99,460 | 50 |
| Amarillo, TX | $98,830 | 130 |
| Waco, TX | $96,680 | 200 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $95,710 | 60 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $94,520 | 110 |
| El Paso, TX | $91,430 | 200 |
| Lubbock, TX | $91,110 | 130 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $90,070 | 70 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $83,760 | 100 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $80,500 | 90 |
| San Angelo, TX | $75,930 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical Engineer pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,950 | $48.53 |
| Industrial Engineer | $111,690 | $53.70 |
| Electrical Engineer | $131,070 | $63.02 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $169,870 | $81.67 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $138,120 | $66.40 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,630 | $62.32 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $137,740 | $66.22 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| Materials Engineer | $123,250 | $59.26 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $84,160 | $40.46 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $144,120 | $69.29 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $125,350 a year, or $60.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $198,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $198,730 a year. The top 25% earn $164,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,470 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $99,080 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 8,310 mechanical engineers are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.