How to Become a Mechanical Engineer in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median mechanical engineer salary in Tennessee is $99,550 per year - 4% below the national median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.
How to Become a Mechanical Engineer in Tennessee
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
Mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology.
2. Pass the FE exam
Recommended at graduation for the EIT designation, even if you defer the PE.
3. Start in design, test, or manufacturing
Entry roles include design engineer, test engineer, and manufacturing engineer.
4. Master the toolchain
CAD (SolidWorks/CATIA), FEA simulation, and GD&T are the professional stack.
5. Advance or license
Senior engineer, engineering manager; the PE license for consulting and sign-off authority.
Requirements in Tennessee
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE license for roles approving designs; optional otherwise. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Mechanical Engineer Salary in Tennessee
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee entry level (10th percentile) | $64,150 |
| Tennessee 25th-75th percentile | $78,730 - $127,500 |
| Tennessee median | $99,550 |
| Tennessee top earners (90th percentile) | $156,150 |
| U.S. median | $104,110 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 3,930.
The Tennessee Job Market: Mechanical Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Tennessee | 3,930 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.20 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.63 |
| Mean annual wage in Tennessee | $104,790 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.63, Tennessee employs mechanical engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,990 |
| 25th | $84,130 |
| 50th (median) | $104,110 |
| 75th | $132,590 |
| 90th | $164,340 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 293,100 |
| 2034 projected | 319,600 |
| Percent change | +9.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for mechanical engineers in Tennessee is $99,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 4% below the national median of $104,110.
How to become a mechanical engineer in Tennessee?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in mechanical engineering - with licensing through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE license for roles approving designs; optional otherwise. See the steps on this page.
How many mechanical engineers work in Tennessee?
BLS counts about 3,930 mechanical engineers employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Mechanical Engineer in Nearby States
- Mechanical Engineer in South Carolina
- Mechanical Engineer in South Dakota
- Mechanical Engineer in Texas
- Mechanical Engineer in Utah
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141), Tennessee and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |