Financial Risk Specialists vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn $3,680 more per year than Mechanical Engineers professionals — that's 3.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Risk Specialists earns $182,310 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Risk Specialists$62,270 – $182,310
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$62,270$182,310
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Risk Specialists | Mechanical Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $62,270 | $68,740 | $-6,470 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,280 | $81,800 | $-1,520 |
| Median (50th) | $106,000 | $102,320 | +$3,680 |
| 75th Percentile | $145,020 | $130,290 | +$14,730 |
| 90th Percentile | $182,310 | $161,240 | +$21,070 |
| Mean (Average) | $119,930 | $110,080 | +$9,850 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Risk Specialists
56,320
employed nationwide
Mechanical Engineers
286,760
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Risk Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $141,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $140,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,420 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $130,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,440 |
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 Risk Specialists or Mechanical Engineers?
Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $3,680 (3.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists salaries range from $62,270 (10th percentile) to $182,310 (90th percentile), with a median of $106,000.
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 Risk Specialists and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 56,320 Financial Risk Specialists positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Financial Risk Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Risk Specialists has a median salary of $106,000 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