Bachelor's+16% vs national median3,629 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at University of Texas at Austin
Ranked 4th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$87,271
middle 50%: $72,366 – $104,199
Median · 5 years out
$111,509
middle 50%: $90,159 – $140,465
Median · 10 years out
$143,327
middle 50%: $111,499 – $200,421
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Mechanical Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Mechanical Engineering graduates from the University of Texas at Austin command a $87k median starting salary. Mid-career earnings reach $112k, while decade-long pay hits $143k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
3.6 yrs
≈ $3,807 total interest
Same major at other universities
Lamar University
$116,446 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Maritime College
$111,922 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$111,636 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$111,433 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$107,421 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$104,696 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$104,211 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$103,012 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$102,699 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$102,352 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$101,424 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$101,094 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Texas at Austin
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$215,480 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$206,592 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$182,751 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$179,117 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$179,117 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$173,536 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$167,891 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$164,408 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$160,721 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$159,387 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$156,021 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$147,611 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Compare universities
Agricultural Engineering
Compare universities
Architectural Engineering
Compare universities
Biochemical Engineering
Compare universities
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Compare universities
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Compare universities