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Mechanical Engineer Salary in Engineering Services Consulting

Engineering services consulting pays mechanical engineers a median of $102,990 per year. This is the largest single employer sector of MEs in the US economy at 53,200, more than aerospace, auto, and defense combined. PE licensure is essentially a career requirement and adds $20,000 to $30,000 at senior levels.

Data as of May 2026, sourced from BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 17-2141).

Consulting Median

$102,990

vs national $102,320 (+0.7%)

Consulting Employment

53,200

largest ME employer sector

PE License Premium

+$20K - $30K

at senior levels

The largest ME employer sector, often overlooked

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for SOC 17-2141 within NAICS 5413 (Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services), May 2024 release, report 53,200 mechanical engineers employed at engineering consulting firms, with a sector median of $102,990 and mean of $104,600.

Engineering services consulting is the single largest employer of MEs in the US, larger than aerospace (22,100), defense (19,600), and motor vehicle manufacturing (15,600) combined. The sector is dominated by global multi-discipline firms (AECOM, Jacobs, Stantec, WSP) and large employee-owned firms (Burns and McDonnell, Black and Veatch, HDR), plus a long tail of regional and specialty consultancies. The work is project-based: 6-month feasibility studies, 18-month design-build engagements, multi-year program management for federal clients. Pay is structured around chargeability (the percentage of hours billed to clients) and project margin, not headcount-only models.

Per-firm pay bands

FirmMedian BaseGlobal Employees
AECOM$108,60051,000
Stantec$105,20031,000
WSP USA$107,40018,000
Burns and McDonnell$109,80013,000
HDR Inc$104,40011,000
Black and Veatch$110,20011,000
Jacobs Engineering$106,80060,000
ARUP$113,4006,000

The PE-license career curve

Engineering services consulting is the sector where PE licensure pays the largest absolute premium. The license is the gatekeeper for sign-off authority, which is the billable product the firm sells to clients. A typical pay curve through PE licensure at a Top 10 consultancy looks like this:

Role / StageTypical Base
Entry-level ME (no PE)$68,000
EIT 3 to 5 years (no PE yet)$82,000
Newly licensed PE (4 to 6 years)$102,000
Senior PE (10 to 15 years)$135,000
Principal/Partner PE (15+ years)$170,000

The jump from EIT (Engineer in Training) to newly licensed PE is the single largest discrete pay event in a consulting ME career, typically $15,000 to $22,000 in the year of licensure. After that, base grows roughly $5,000 to $8,000 per year through senior levels, with bonus and ESOP contributions adding meaningful variance. The path to principal or partner is roughly 15 to 18 years from BS, with business-development capacity (rainmaker reputation) as the main qualifying criterion above the technical bar.

Frequently asked questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in engineering services consulting?+
Engineering services consulting MEs earn a median of $102,990 per year and a mean of $104,600, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2024 (SOC 17-2141 within NAICS 5413 Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services). This sector is the largest single employer of MEs in the US economy at 53,200, more than aerospace, auto, and defense combined.
Which consulting firm pays mechanical engineers the most?+
ARUP leads major US-active consultancies at roughly $113,400 median for MEs, driven by premium structural and MEP work for high-end commercial buildings. Black and Veatch and Burns and McDonnell (both employee-owned) follow at $110,200 and $109,800, with their ESOP contributions adding 5 to 10 percent in equivalent value on top of base. AECOM, WSP, and Jacobs cluster from $106,000 to $108,000.
Is a PE license worth it in engineering services consulting?+
Yes, more than in any other sector. Consulting firms charge clients PE-stamped hours at premium bill rates, and unlicensed engineers cannot sign deliverables that require PE seal (HVAC plans for buildings over a certain size, public infrastructure, structural mechanical). ASME survey data shows PE-licensed MEs earn a median of $133,000 compared to $117,000 for unlicensed engineers across all industries; in consulting specifically, the licensed-vs-unlicensed delta is larger at $20,000 to $30,000 at senior levels.
What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in engineering services?+
Entry-level mechanical engineers in engineering services (0 to 2 years experience) typically earn $62,000 to $78,000 base. AECOM, Stantec, WSP, and Jacobs new-grad offers cluster around $68,000 to $80,000 base. The path to higher pay runs through PE licensure (typically achieved at year 4 to 6) and project-management certification (PMP).
What is the career path in engineering services consulting?+
The standard path: EIT (Engineer in Training) for years 0 to 4 under a licensed PE; pass PE exam at year 4 to 5 for $15,000 to $22,000 bump; Senior PE at year 8 to 12 with project lead authority; Principal or Partner at year 15+ with business-development responsibility and equity-equivalent profit-share. Big firms (AECOM, Jacobs, WSP) reward technical depth; mid-size firms (Burns and McDonnell, Black and Veatch, HDR) reward project leadership; small specialty firms reward business development.
How does consulting pay compare to in-house ME roles?+
Consulting pays $5,000 to $15,000 less at the base level than equivalent in-house positions at hardware tech, defense, or oil and gas employers, but the work is broader (multiple clients, multiple project types). In-house roles offer deeper domain expertise but narrower exposure. The trade-off reverses at senior levels: consulting principals with rainmaker reputations can out-earn in-house engineering directors via bonus and profit-share, especially in employee-owned firms (Burns and McDonnell, Black and Veatch, HDR).

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Independent salary reference. Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Not affiliated with the BLS, any employer, or any professional engineering organization. Individual salaries vary based on experience, location, employer, and negotiation.

Updated 2026-05-11