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Mechanical Engineer Salary in Minnesota

Minnesota pays mechanical engineers a mean of $109,650 per year, 13th in the nation, with one of the best COL-to-pay ratios of any high-wage state. The state employs 7,800 mechanical engineers, with Medtronic, 3M, Boston Scientific, and Stryker anchoring the largest US medical-device cluster.

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

MN Mean Wage

$109,650

vs national $101,560 (+8.0%)

MN Employment

7,800

88% in Twin Cities

COL-Adjusted

$109,650

MN COL 100 (national parity)

The medical-device capital of the US

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for SOC 17-2141, May 2024 release, report a Minnesota annual mean wage of $109,650 for 7,800 employed engineers. The state ranks 13th nationally, 8.0 percent above the national mean of $101,560.

Minnesota's ME labor market is structurally different from California or Texas because of the dominance of medical devices and the diversified Twin Cities manufacturing base. Medtronic (the world's largest medical-device company) employs roughly 6,000 engineers across all SOC codes at its Fridley HQ and Brooklyn Park sites. Boston Scientific Maple Grove (cardiovascular devices) and Stryker (orthopedic and neurotechnology) add another 2,000-plus combined. 3M's global HQ in Maplewood employs MEs across abrasives, adhesives, automotive aftermarket, and healthcare divisions. The state also has Cargill (food processing equipment), Polaris (snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles), Honeywell process, and a smaller cluster of agricultural and industrial firms.

Metro-by-metro pay

Metro	Mean Wage	MEs Employed	Driver Employers
Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington	$112,800	6,900	Medtronic HQ (the world's largest medical-device company), 3M HQ, Boston Scientific Maple Grove, Stryker, Cargill, Polaris, Honeywell process.
Rochester	$108,400	720	Mayo Clinic biomedical engineering, plus IBM Rochester (Power Systems server design).
Duluth	$96,400	240	Cirrus Aircraft, US Steel Minntac taconite operations, plus the smaller Twin Ports industrial base.
Saint Cloud	$92,800	180	Electrolux Major Appliances, New Flyer of America bus manufacturing, plus Coborn's distribution engineering.

The cost-of-living math, honestly

Minnesota housing costs sit right at the national average. Using Regional Price Parities published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state runs at exactly 100, the national parity point. That makes the headline state mean of $109,650 the equivalent of $109,650 in national-purchasing-power terms.

Metro	Nominal Pay	COL Index	Adjusted
Minneapolis-Saint Paul	$112,800	104	$108,462
Rochester	$108,400	96	$112,917
Duluth	$96,400	92	$104,783
Saint Cloud	$92,800	91	$101,978
Minnesota state average	$109,650	100	$109,650

PE licensing in Minnesota

The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) administers PE licensure under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326. The path is ABET-accredited BS, FE exam, four years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE, then the PE exam. Minnesota's application fee is $120, biennial renewal is $120, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375. PE licensure adds significant compensation in the Twin Cities consulting and HVAC market. It adds no material premium at Medtronic, Boston Scientific, or 3M because the work product is not signed under the engineer's seal.

Frequently asked questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in Minnesota?+

Minnesota mechanical engineers earn a mean of $109,650 per year and a median hourly wage of $52.72, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2024. The state ranks 13th nationally by mean pay and employs 7,800 mechanical engineers, with medical devices as the dominant industry.

Which Minnesota metro pays mechanical engineers the most?+

Minneapolis-Saint Paul-Bloomington leads at a mean of $112,800 for 6,900 employed engineers, anchored by Medtronic (the world's largest medical-device company), 3M's global HQ, Boston Scientific Maple Grove, Stryker, and Polaris. Rochester follows at $108,400 for 720 engineers, anchored by Mayo Clinic biomedical engineering and IBM Rochester.

Is Minnesota mechanical engineering pay worth it after cost of living?+

Yes. Minneapolis-Saint Paul at $112,800 with COL 104 produces $108,462 in adjusted purchasing power. Rochester at $108,400 with COL 96 produces $112,917 in adjusted purchasing power, the highest in the state. Minnesota is unusual among high-paying ME states in that the COL math improves your effective wage rather than degrades it.

What is the medical-device premium in Minnesota?+

Medical-device manufacturing is the highest-paying major industry for MEs in Minnesota, with metro-level means roughly $5,000 to $15,000 above the state average depending on company and role. Medtronic, Boston Scientific Maple Grove, and Stryker all pay senior-engineer total compensation packages in the $145,000 to $185,000 range. The premium reflects FDA regulatory complexity, the specialized nature of the design work, and the long-cycle product approval timelines.

Do mechanical engineers need a PE license to work in Minnesota?+

Most medical-device, product engineering, and hardware roles do not require a PE license. The license is mandatory for engineers who sign off on building HVAC, structural mechanical, or public infrastructure designs under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326. The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) administers licensing. The application fee is $120 plus an exam fee set by NCEES (around $375).

What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in Minnesota?+

Entry-level mechanical engineers in Minnesota (0 to 2 years experience) typically earn $66,000 to $82,000. Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and 3M new-grad offers cluster around $72,000 to $88,000 base, with strong relocation and benefits packages. Polaris, Cargill, and the Twin Cities consulting market cluster around $66,000 to $80,000 base.

All 50 States Ranked

Parent hub: every state plus DC, ranked.

Medical Devices

$108,200 median plus FDA regulatory premium.

Wisconsin

Heavy-equipment manufacturing cluster.

Illinois

Chicago manufacturing and Caterpillar Peoria.

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