TL;DR: In the latest BLS data (May 2025), median engineer salary by discipline ranges from $100,840 for civil engineers to $125,040 for chemical and for electrical and electronics engineers. Architects come in at $99,280, construction managers at $114,990 and drafters at $68,090. Location, a PE license and exempt vs. non-exempt status can move a real offer well above or below these medians.
Engineer salary by discipline is the first thing candidates ask me about. It usually sounds like, “Is this offer fair for a mechanical engineer?” I recruit for roles like this on U.S. fab and plant projects, and I see the same people compare offers using a number a friend gave them or a salary site with no source. So I went back to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and pulled only figures I could open on bls.gov this month.
Use these as a starting point, not a price tag. A median is the middle of the whole country: half of workers earn more and half earn less. Your number depends on your state, the type of employer, your license and how much overtime the job carries.
Engineer salary by discipline: BLS median pay, May 2025
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook now shows May 2025 pay data, taken from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. The OEWS release came out May 15, 2026 (BLS OEWS news release). Every row below links to the BLS page I used.
| Occupation (BLS) | Median annual pay, May 2025 | Median hourly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical engineers | $125,040 | $60.12 | BLS |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | $125,040 | $60.12 | BLS |
| Health and safety engineers | $115,160 | $55.36 | BLS |
| Construction managers | $114,990 | $55.28 | BLS |
| Mechanical engineers | $104,110 | $50.05 | BLS |
| Project management specialists | $102,320 | $49.19 | BLS |
| Civil engineers | $100,840 | $48.48 | BLS |
| Architects | $99,280 | $47.73 | BLS |
| Drafters | $68,090 | $32.74 | BLS |
Some useful splits inside those groups, all for May 2025:
- Electrical vs. electronics. Electrical engineers: $120,630. Electronics engineers, except computer: $130,220 (BLS).
- Drafters by specialty. Electrical and electronics drafters: $76,870. Mechanical drafters: $71,550. Architectural and civil drafters: $66,150 (BLS).
- Mechanical engineers by industry. Architectural, engineering and related services: $103,440. Computer and electronic product manufacturing: $106,870. Scientific research and development services: $132,040 (BLS).
That last split is something I explain often. A mechanical engineer at a design firm and one inside a chip or battery plant may do related work, but the employer type alone shifts the median. If you’re moving between the two, compare the whole package, not just base pay.
How to read these numbers without fooling yourself
- Median is not mean. The OOH table shows medians. The metro figures further down are means (averages), which a few very high earners can pull up. Don’t mix the two in one comparison.
- Base pay only. These figures don’t include overtime premiums you’d negotiate, sign-on bonuses, per diem or relocation, so a real offer can look very different.
- Titles don’t map one to one. On plant projects I see “safety engineer,” “EHS engineer” and “safety manager” used for very different jobs. Match your duties to the BLS description before you pick a row.
- Look at the range, not just the middle. OEWS occupation pages also show percentile wages, which tell you where a senior or junior offer should sit.
How state and metro change the number
National medians hide big local differences. BLS publishes OEWS data for every state and metro area. Start with the OEWS state index or the metro area index, pick your area and find your occupation code.
To show how much location matters, here is the mean (average) hourly wage for the whole “architecture and engineering” occupation group in four metros where plant construction is active. These come from BLS regional releases for May 2025. Note that these are group averages, not discipline medians.
| Area (May 2025) | Architecture and engineering, mean hourly | U.S. same group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX metro | $55.89 | $51.36 | BLS Southwest |
| Houston, TX metro | $54.26 | $51.36 | BLS Southwest |
| Phoenix, AZ metro | $50.95 | $51.36 | BLS West |
| Atlanta, GA metro | $49.71 | $51.36 | BLS Southeast |
So Austin’s group average ran above the U.S. figure, while Atlanta and Phoenix ran slightly below it. A lower wage can still go further if living costs are lower, so run both offers through the cost of living by state calculator. Also remember that many plant jobs sit outside the big metros. Rural and smaller-metro wages can look quite different, so check that area’s OEWS page too.
If you’re weighing a specific state, my guides to Korean companies hiring in Texas and Korean companies hiring in Georgia give you the local hiring picture.
How a PE license affects your offer
BLS says entry-level engineers don’t need a license. A Professional Engineer (PE) license, though, lets an engineer oversee other engineers’ work, sign off on projects and offer services directly to the public. Licensure generally requires an accredited degree, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant experience and passing the PE exam. Each state issues its own license (BLS, Civil Engineers).
BLS doesn’t publish a “PE premium,” and I won’t make one up. Here is what I actually see in offers:
- At design firms, the license is tied to the title. Engineer of record, discipline lead and project engineer roles often require a PE or a clear plan to get one. The license tends to show up as a title step rather than a small raise.
- Inside manufacturing plants, it matters less day to day. Owner-side plant engineers often don’t stamp drawings, so the license weighs less in pay, though it can still help for senior roles.
- “PE eligible” is worth writing down. If you’ve passed the FE and are building experience, say so on your resume. Hiring managers notice.
- Architects follow the same pattern. BLS notes all states and D.C. require architects to be licensed, and the license usually separates designer pay from project architect pay.
Exempt vs. non-exempt: the overtime question
Most salaried engineers and architects are classified as exempt under the “learned professional” exemption. That covers work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, usually gained through a long course of specialized study, paid on a salary basis at or above the federal standard salary level (DOL Fact Sheet #17D). Exempt means no overtime pay is legally required, even in 55-hour weeks.
Drafters, CAD technicians, inspectors and some field roles are often non-exempt and paid hourly with overtime. On a ramp-up schedule, that overtime can make a lower base rate the bigger paycheck. Before you compare, read exempt vs non-exempt overtime and run the numbers with the overtime calculator. Note that BLS says construction managers may be on call 24 hours a day for emergencies, and that some mechanical engineers work more than 40 hours a week (BLS, BLS).
Step by step: checking an offer against BLS data
- Find your BLS occupation. Use your real duties, not your title. A “process engineer” in a chip plant may be coded as chemical, electrical or industrial.
- Check the national median in the table above.
- Open the OEWS state or metro page for where the job actually is.
- Convert to hourly with the salary to hourly calculator, especially if one offer is hourly.
- Add overtime, per diem and bonus, then compare after tax with the take-home pay calculator.
- Put the offers side by side in the offer comparison calculator.
What’s different at Korean-affiliated companies
- Pay bands can be set with HQ in the loop. The U.S. team may have less room to move base pay, but sign-on bonuses, relocation and title are often easier to negotiate. See how to negotiate salary at a Korean company.
- Ramp-up overtime is real. Startup phases can mean long weeks, so exempt status matters even more.
- Expat vs. local hire packages differ. Don’t compare yourself to an expat’s housing or allowances. Compare against the local market data above.
- Relocation can be worth a lot. Plant sites are often far from where candidates live. Read relocation packages at Korean companies before you sign.
Questions to ask before you accept
- Is this role exempt or non-exempt? If exempt, is there any comp time or overtime premium during ramp-up?
- Is there a raise, bonus or title change when I pass the PE (or the ARE)?
- Will the company pay exam fees, review courses and license renewals?
- When is the next pay review, and how is the increase decided?
- Is per diem or a travel allowance paid if I’m sent to a site in another state?
FAQ
Which engineering discipline pays the most in this list?
Among the roles in this article, chemical engineers and electrical and electronics engineers tie at a $125,040 median for May 2025, according to BLS.
Are these numbers starting salaries?
No. They are medians for all workers in the occupation, at every experience level. Entry-level offers are usually lower.
Why do my state’s numbers look different?
OEWS estimates wages separately for each state and metro area. Local demand, cost of living and the industry mix all shift pay. Check your area’s OEWS page.
Does a PE license guarantee a raise?
No. BLS doesn’t publish a set PE premium. At design firms, though, the license is often required for senior titles that pay more. Ask your employer how they handle it.
Can a salaried engineer get overtime?
Exempt engineers aren’t legally owed overtime, but some employers pay a premium anyway. Non-exempt roles must get overtime under federal rules. Check your classification in writing.
Not legal or tax advice; licensing rules are set by your state board. Pay figures are BLS medians for May 2025 (metro figures are group mean hourly wages, May 2025), checked October 2026. Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook occupation pages, BLS OEWS news release and regional releases (Austin, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta), U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheet #17D.
Engineering exam prep and references on Amazon
Pick review books for the exact FE or PE discipline you plan to take, since each one has its own specification.
- Salary negotiation books
- Never Split the Difference
- FE exam practice problems
- PE exam review books
- Engineering resume guides
As an Amazon Associate, GRYNDHAUS earns from qualifying purchases.
