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Mechanical Engineer Salary at Top Companies 2026
Salary data for 20 major employers of mechanical engineers across big tech, aerospace, automotive, energy, and industrial sectors. Data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and employer disclosures.
Full Company Comparison
| Company | Base Range |
|---|---|
| Apple | $130,000 - $185,000 |
| $135,000 - $190,000 | |
| Tesla | $110,000 - $170,000 |
| Meta | $140,000 - $195,000 |
| Amazon | $120,000 - $165,000 |
| Boeing | $95,000 - $145,000 |
| Lockheed Martin | $90,000 - $140,000 |
| SpaceX | $105,000 - $160,000 |
| Raytheon (RTX) | $88,000 - $135,000 |
| Northrop Grumman | $90,000 - $138,000 |
| General Motors | $85,000 - $130,000 |
| Ford Motor | $83,000 - $128,000 |
| Rivian | $100,000 - $155,000 |
| Toyota (US) | $82,000 - $125,000 |
| ExxonMobil | $100,000 - $155,000 |
| Chevron | $98,000 - $150,000 |
| Honeywell | $88,000 - $132,000 |
| 3M | $85,000 - $128,000 |
| Caterpillar | $82,000 - $125,000 |
| John Deere | $84,000 - $130,000 |
Big Tech
Apple
4.2 rating$130,000 - $185,000
Total comp: $170,000 - $320,000
$135,000 - $190,000
Total comp: $180,000 - $350,000
Tesla
3.5 rating$110,000 - $170,000
Total comp: $140,000 - $280,000
Meta
4.1 rating$140,000 - $195,000
Total comp: $185,000 - $370,000
Amazon
3.8 rating$120,000 - $165,000
Total comp: $155,000 - $290,000
Aerospace/Defense
Boeing
3.8 rating$95,000 - $145,000
Total comp: $105,000 - $170,000
Lockheed Martin
4.1 rating$90,000 - $140,000
Total comp: $100,000 - $165,000
SpaceX
3.6 rating$105,000 - $160,000
Total comp: $125,000 - $250,000
Raytheon (RTX)
3.9 rating$88,000 - $135,000
Total comp: $98,000 - $158,000
Northrop Grumman
4.0 rating$90,000 - $138,000
Total comp: $100,000 - $162,000
Automotive
General Motors
4.0 rating$85,000 - $130,000
Total comp: $95,000 - $155,000
Ford Motor
3.9 rating$83,000 - $128,000
Total comp: $93,000 - $150,000
Rivian
3.4 rating$100,000 - $155,000
Total comp: $130,000 - $240,000
Toyota (US)
4.1 rating$82,000 - $125,000
Total comp: $92,000 - $148,000
Energy
ExxonMobil
4.0 rating$100,000 - $155,000
Total comp: $120,000 - $195,000
Chevron
4.1 rating$98,000 - $150,000
Total comp: $118,000 - $190,000
Industrial
Honeywell
3.7 rating$88,000 - $132,000
Total comp: $98,000 - $155,000
3M
3.8 rating$85,000 - $128,000
Total comp: $95,000 - $148,000
Caterpillar
3.9 rating$82,000 - $125,000
Total comp: $92,000 - $145,000
John Deere
4.0 rating$84,000 - $130,000
Total comp: $94,000 - $152,000
Startup vs Established Company
Startup/Scale-up
- Lower base salary (10 to 20% below market)
- Significant equity upside (can be life-changing if the company succeeds)
- Broader role scope: you wear many hats
- Higher risk: layoffs, pivots, shutdowns
- Faster career progression (title inflation is real, but so is the experience)
- Examples: Rivian, Relativity Space, Joby Aviation
Established Company
- Market-rate or above-market base salary
- Predictable equity (RSU grants with known value)
- Defined career ladders and promotion timelines
- Lower risk: stable revenue, established processes
- Slower progression: promotion cycles are annual or biennial
- Examples: Boeing, GM, Honeywell, 3M