Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of $99,330 in 2024, about 5% below the US median of $104,651. That gap is narrower than it looks once you factor in cost of living: Tennessee's price level runs roughly 7.5% below the national average, so the typical paycheck here stretches further than the nominal figures suggest.
The spread across earners is wide. The 10th percentile came in at $47,000 and the 90th at $142,230, meaning top earners made about three times what those at the bottom of the range did. That kind of range usually points to real differences in seniority, sub-specialty, and industry. A junior engineer fresh out of school and a senior mechanical engineer at a defense or automotive supplier are both counted in this figure.
Employment stood at 3,680 in the state in 2024. BLS projects the occupation to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, a rate it classifies as faster than average. That projection covers the national picture; Tennessee's manufacturing and automotive base has historically supported steady demand for the role.
The mean annual wage of $101,260 sits only modestly above the median, which tells us the upper end of the distribution is not pulling the average far from the middle. Pay here is relatively compressed compared to states where a thin layer of very high earners creates a larger gap between the two figures.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $78,730 and $127,500, with a median of $99,550.
Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 100 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $96,226. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 21 | $69,763 |
| Level II — qualified | 34 | $85,831 |
| Level III — experienced | 31 | $108,372 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 13 | $116,127 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerise Infotech Inc | Design Optimization specialist | 6 | $83,304 |
| Cummins Filtration Inc. | Product Engineer | 5 | $98,592 |
| SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC. | Lead, Configuration Product Owner, Technical | 5 | $108,372 |
| A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | Sr. Project Engineer | 3 | $109,803 |
| General Motors | Battery Process Engineering Supervisor | 3 | $124,594 |
| INTELLECTT, INC. | MANUFACTURING CONSULTANT | 3 | $104,000 |
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | CFD Applications Engineer | 3 | $130,579 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Manager III, Facilities | 2 | $132,330 |
| Atmus Filtration Inc. | Customer Engineer | 2 | $118,373 |
| Designed Conveyor Systems, LLC | Mechanical Engineer III | 2 | $108,629 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Product Engineering Advisor at Atmus Filtration Inc.$135,491NashvilleWage Level IVDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-698672
- Mechanical Design Engineer at Sortera Technologies Inc.$93,475LebanonWage Level IIIDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-700279
- Mechanical Project Engineer at Dhruvin Inc$70,000Mount JulietWage Level IIDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-682344
- Quality Manager at Micro Metals PM, Inc.$130,000JAMESTOWNWage Level IVDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-639486
- ACC Field Engineer at Kiewit Power Constructors Co.$96,028Cumberland CityWage Level IDecided Feb 19, 2026I-200-26042-633466
- Senior Engineer at Trane Technologies Company LLC$118,633ClarksvilleWage Level IIIDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-605425
- Staff Mechanical Engineer at SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.$115,780FranklinWage Level IIIDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-490693
- Cryogenics Engineer II at Type One Energy Group Inc.$110,000KnoxvilleWage Level IVDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-454999
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in Tennessee
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in Tennessee
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 39 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $102,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | Designed Conveyor Systems, LLC | 10 | $102,000 |
| Project Engineer | A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | 9 | $95,000 |
| QUALITY ENGINEER | SL TENNESSEE LLC | 8 | $95,330 |
| Design Optimization specialist | Cerise Infotech Inc | 5 | $83,304 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | LuxView LLC | 4 | $84,238 |
| Product Manager | Assa Abloy Accessories and Door Controls Group Inc. | 3 | $98,592 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 93 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $101,036.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Cummins Filtration Inc. | 60 | $101,036 |
| Professional services | Cerise Infotech Inc | 12 | $83,327 |
| Technology and software | INTELLECTT, INC. | 9 | $93,600 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 6 | $96,738 |
| Energy and utilities | Type One Energy Group Inc. | 2 | $103,213 |
| Education | THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | 2 | $85,495 |
| Healthcare | ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | 1 | $86,320 |
| Real estate | Dhruvin Inc | 1 | $70,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee is $99,550.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Tennessee median is -7.5% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,150 and the 90th-percentile at $156,150, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.