SalaryByCity

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

$104,070

Median annual salary

319,630 employed nationally

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary professionals earn $1,750 more per year than Mechanical Engineers professionals — that's 1.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earns $165,820 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$72,400 – $165,820
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$68,740$165,820

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileEducation Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMechanical EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$72,400$68,740+$3,660
25th Percentile$83,840$81,800+$2,040
Median (50th)$104,070$102,320+$1,750
75th Percentile$132,550$130,290+$2,260
90th Percentile$165,820$161,240+$4,580
Mean (Average)$113,360$110,080+$3,280

Employment Numbers

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

319,630

employed nationwide

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

CityMedian
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$170,150
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$164,500
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$160,750
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$157,210
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$156,670

Best Cities for Mechanical Engineers

CityMedian
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: Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary or Mechanical Engineers?
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $1,750 (1.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary?
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salaries range from $72,400 (10th percentile) to $165,820 (90th percentile), with a median of $104,070.
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 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 319,630 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary has a median salary of $104,070 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