Financial Managers vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $59,380 more per year than Mechanical Engineers professionals — that's 58.0% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$68,740$161,240
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Mechanical Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $68,740 | +$17,750 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $81,800 | +$36,560 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $102,320 | +$59,380 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $130,290 | +$83,920 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $161,240 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $110,080 | +$70,390 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Mechanical Engineers
286,760
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Best Cities for Mechanical Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $147,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $145,640 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,660 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $126,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $124,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Managers or Mechanical Engineers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $59,380 (58.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
How many Financial Managers and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 while Mechanical Engineers earns $102,320. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS