Salary guide, May 2025
Plant Engineering Manager pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in the United States was $104,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $84,130 and $132,590.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $73,990 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 | $164,340 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.57 | $40.45 | $50.05 | $63.75 | $79.01 |
BLS estimated 296,810 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,660 | $78,490 to $127,810 | 2,000 | 0.37 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $100,290 | $85,340 to $127,330 | 1,220 | 0.44 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $103,380 | $82,830 to $128,920 | 1,720 | 0.64 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $100,000 | $81,420 to $124,360 | 1,810 | 1.28 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,990 | $92,180 to $137,060 | 6,960 | 0.38 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,990 | $92,180 to $137,060 | 6,960 | 0.38 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,420 | $87,200 to $132,840 | 5,600 | 0.73 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,070 | $83,140 to $130,310 | 6,900 | 0.8 |
Rank every metro for Plant Engineering Manager
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$140,600
- Apparel Manufacturing (NAICS 315000)$125,070
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$119,150
- Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$114,990
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$106,870
- Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311000)$106,350
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$105,560
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$104,820
- Printing and Related Support Activities (NAICS 323000)$104,420
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$102,200
- Textile Mills (NAICS 313000)$101,990
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$101,350
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$100,930
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$99,680
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$98,620
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 130,930 | $82,490 | $101,570 | $127,800 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 41,730 | $79,580 | $98,620 | $123,220 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 31,460 | $87,140 | $105,560 | $132,370 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 29,420 | $79,340 | $97,620 | $120,800 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 18,290 | $93,970 | $106,870 | $134,480 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 14,590 | $77,410 | $94,320 | $110,060 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 12,060 | $99,760 | $112,900 | $149,430 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 10,800 | $92,000 | $106,210 | $134,920 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 8,750 | $83,290 | $102,410 | $126,410 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 7,160 | $82,920 | $101,350 | $124,470 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 6,820 | $78,910 | $97,340 | $116,340 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 5,510 | $76,180 | $88,160 | $106,140 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 5,080 | $83,680 | $102,200 | $126,730 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 4,940 | $97,010 | $107,240 | $134,140 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 4,420 | $99,020 | $124,400 | $135,750 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 4,330 | $98,690 | $121,670 | $140,660 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3,820 | $75,440 | $87,120 | $104,250 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 3,690 | $75,800 | $92,110 | $110,700 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,220 | $93,170 | $106,290 | $128,530 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 3,190 | $75,920 | $92,560 | $113,820 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3,170 | $81,020 | $96,660 | $120,210 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 3,080 | $85,900 | $104,950 | $130,830 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 3,060 | $82,490 | $98,120 | $118,360 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 2,650 | $98,540 | $119,150 | $140,430 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 2,470 | $82,030 | $100,280 | $127,540 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 2,400 | $81,470 | $98,170 | $120,660 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,380 | $80,770 | $97,190 | $122,130 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 2,300 | $81,760 | $99,680 | $115,860 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 2,000 | $79,470 | $96,910 | $119,520 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,980 | $76,950 | $84,370 | $99,470 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,890 | $101,380 | $124,010 | $144,670 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,340 | $97,710 | $106,870 | $134,840 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 1,180 | $99,420 | $115,720 | $130,670 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 910 | $82,750 | $105,030 | $133,740 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 900 | $90,680 | $106,350 | $131,820 |
| 322000 · 3-digit | Paper Manufacturing | 870 | $98,870 | $114,990 | $131,350 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 740 | $124,430 | $140,600 | $165,480 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 740 | $124,430 | $140,600 | $165,480 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 700 | $72,270 | $81,710 | $100,270 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 690 | $82,260 | $97,170 | $125,100 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 670 | $70,170 | $80,600 | $98,420 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 660 | $82,760 | $97,320 | $107,020 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 620 | $89,710 | $103,280 | $130,300 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 620 | $83,200 | $100,930 | $118,460 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 620 | $78,590 | $92,820 | $105,730 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 530 | $74,220 | $99,990 | $115,580 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 510 | $75,000 | $87,180 | $102,840 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 480 | $106,780 | $124,140 | $136,700 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 470 | $85,520 | $106,650 | $128,760 |
| 322200 · 4-digit | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 400 | $83,350 | $103,380 | $124,700 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 390 | $102,020 | $121,740 | $144,950 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 390 | $75,790 | $93,380 | $110,480 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 380 | $96,450 | $106,660 | $119,580 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 370 | $84,090 | $98,280 | $106,450 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 310 | $75,260 | $90,020 | $105,880 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 310 | $84,800 | $102,300 | $114,830 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 290 | $100,780 | $125,380 | $146,000 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 250 | $74,530 | $84,360 | $104,190 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 250 | $83,090 | $98,010 | $112,430 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 200 | $93,820 | $104,820 | $115,760 |
| 312100 · 4-digit | Beverage Manufacturing | 190 | $93,950 | $104,980 | $115,760 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 150 | $85,540 | $107,220 | $124,050 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 120 | $81,810 | $99,180 | $124,630 |
| 311800 · 4-digit | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 110 | $66,800 | $74,460 | $87,800 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 100 | $91,370 | $96,570 | $104,150 |
| 313000 · 3-digit | Textile Mills | 90 | $92,010 | $101,990 | $131,570 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | 90 | $65,180 | $85,590 | $105,270 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 80 | $103,970 | $117,350 | $131,040 |
| 313200 · 4-digit | Fabric Mills | 70 | $97,810 | $105,810 | $134,390 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | 70 | $65,160 | $81,410 | $102,390 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 40 | $84,990 | $113,160 | $140,040 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 40 | $82,650 | $92,230 | $101,990 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 40 | $82,640 | $104,420 | $129,120 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 40 | $82,640 | $104,420 | $129,120 |
| 337900 · 4-digit | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 40 | $98,180 | $111,900 | $139,990 |
| 315000 · 3-digit | Apparel Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $103,120 | $125,070 | $134,270 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Plant Engineering Manager, clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $81,800 | $102,320 | $130,290 |
| May 2025 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the authority you are offering?
Settle engineering people management rather than maintenance crew supervision before outreach begins. We put the difference around engineering people management rather than maintenance crew supervision in front of you so the interview tests missing experience rather than assuming it is already there.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Plant Engineering Manager?
The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in the United States was $104,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $84,130 and $132,590. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $73,990. 90% earned less than $164,340.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Plant Engineering Manager at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 296,810 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters analyzes the plant engineering manager role using the BLS Mechanical Engineer occupational data. For Plant Engineering Manager in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $104,110; the May 2024 median is $102,320. Their arithmetic difference is $1,790.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle band width is $48,460, spanning from a P25 of $84,130 to a P75 of $132,590. These values apply to all mechanical engineers and do not account for the supervisory and facility-wide responsibilities inherent in a plant engineering manager role.
Industry-specific benchmarks highlight higher earning potentials. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing indicates a $140,600 median, while Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing reports $125,380. For Plant Engineering Manager in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area reports a median of $109,470 with a significant location quotient of 6.19. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro shows a $123,900 median with a 0.73 quotient. These figures represent the broad mechanical engineering SOC and not a separate plant manager title. Differences in local medians reflect diverse regional industry mixes rather than individual pay variations.
Screening candidates for this position requires evidence of complex facility leadership. We focus on the ability to develop comprehensive shutdown plans that successfully integrate external contractors with internal production restart checks. This requires a person with strong engineering-focused people management skills, not just the ability to supervise a routine maintenance crew.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Is the $104,110 median realistic for a plant engineering manager?
No, that number represents all mechanical engineers. Plant engineering managers in manufacturing facilities typically command pay structures that sit significantly above this broad median.
What does a location quotient of 6.19 mean for Detroit?
It means the area has a high concentration of mechanical engineering roles compared to the national average. It identifies a strong local sector but is not a proxy for individual salary levels.
Why is the P75 band width limited for this manager title?
The $132,590 P75 figure is an aggregate for all Mechanical Engineers. Because it includes entry-level and intermediate engineers, it underestimates the top-end compensation for experienced engineering managers.
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