General and Operations Managers vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn $630 more per year than Mechanical Engineers professionals — that's 0.6% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$47,420$161,240
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | General and Operations Managers | Mechanical Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $47,420 | $68,740 | $-21,320 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,160 | $81,800 | $-14,640 |
| Median (50th) | $102,950 | $102,320 | +$630 |
| 75th Percentile | $164,130 | $130,290 | +$33,840 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $161,240 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $133,120 | $110,080 | +$23,040 |
Employment Numbers
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
employed nationwide
Mechanical Engineers
286,760
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
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: General and Operations Managers or Mechanical Engineers?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $630 (0.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
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 General and Operations Managers and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to General and Operations Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. General and Operations Managers has a median salary of $102,950 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