Mechanical Engineering Degree Programs in Tennessee (2026)

Q: "How much do mechanical engineers make in Tennessee?"

"The median annual wage for mechanical engineers in Tennessee is $99,550, below the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $78,730 at the 25th percentile to $127,500 at the 75th."

Q: "How many mechanical engineers work in Tennessee?"

"Tennessee holds about 3,930 mechanical engineer jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 296,810, and BLS projects about 18,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34)."

Q: "Do I need a license to work as a mechanical engineer in Tennessee?"

"Mechanical engineering follows the same Professional Engineer path the state boards administer: an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam in mechanical engineering. What differs from civil is how often the license is actually needed. Many mechanical engineers work in manufacturing and product design under what is commonly called the industrial exemption and never license, while those who seal building systems drawings or hold responsible charge do. Whether a state accepts an ABET ETAC (engineering technology) degree toward licensure varies, and so do comity rules between states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state engineering licensing board before you enroll in any program."

Q: "Can I earn a ABET-accredited BSME online while working in Tennessee?"

"Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state engineering licensing board."

Q: "What is the highest-paying area of Tennessee for mechanical engineers?"

"Among Tennessee metro areas with published data, Chattanooga reports the highest median at $106,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Q: "Is Tennessee a good state for mechanical engineers?"

"On pay, the state median of $99,550 sits below the national $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.63 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live."

Updated July 24, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Quick answer: Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee earn a median $99,550 per year, below the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 3,930 of them. Licensing runs through your state engineering licensing board.

Mechanical Engineering Pay and Employment in Tennessee at a Glance

Metric	Tennessee	National	Source
Median annual wage	$99,550	$104,110	BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile	$64,150	$73,990	BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile	$78,730	$84,130	BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile	$127,500	$132,590	BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile	$156,150	$164,340	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment	3,930	296,810	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient	0.63	1.00	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)	not published by state	9.1%	BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Tennessee Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Tennessee median of $99,550 sits below the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.63 puts Tennessee below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Tennessee

Metro area	Median annual wage	Employment
Chattanooga	$106,660	510
Memphis	$104,110	390
Nashville	$99,440	990
Knoxville	$99,070	760
Johnson City	$97,040	60
Jackson	$96,290	80
Kingsport	$94,560	240
Clarksville	$92,940	150
Morristown	$80,490	50

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Mechanical engineering demand follows the region’s mix of manufacturing plants, building systems design and energy work, so the local picture can differ sharply from the national one.

Mechanical Engineers Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), mechanical engineers wages in Tennessee vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	990	$99,440	$102,820	$52,670	$145,990
Knoxville	760	$99,070	$102,210	$63,200	$148,980
Chattanooga	510	$106,660	$111,520	$75,880	$157,030
Memphis	390	$104,110	$106,490	$70,630	$150,400
Kingsport-Bristol	240	$94,560	$106,330	$75,090	$159,770
Clarksville	150	$92,940	$92,040	$47,830	$130,210
Jackson	80	$96,290	$111,450	$65,730	$132,470
Johnson City	60	$97,040	$100,020	$66,630	$126,190
Morristown	50	$80,490	$93,230	$63,570	$135,400

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Tennessee Metro Areas With Published Data

Chattanooga * Clarksville * Kingsport * Knoxville * Memphis * Nashville

Licensing and Credentials in Tennessee

Mechanical engineering follows the same Professional Engineer path the state boards administer: an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam in mechanical engineering. What differs from civil is how often the license is actually needed. Many mechanical engineers work in manufacturing and product design under what is commonly called the industrial exemption and never license, while those who seal building systems drawings or hold responsible charge do. Whether a state accepts an ABET ETAC (engineering technology) degree toward licensure varies, and so do comity rules between states.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state engineering licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page: Defines the local group
Graduation rate: 30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry: 25%
Average net price (lower is better): 20%
Retention rate: 15%
Fully online availability: 10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.