SalaryByCity

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

$76,950

Median annual salary

861,140 employed nationally

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Mechanical Engineers professionals earn $25,370 more per year than Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists professionals — that's 33.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists earns $144,610 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$42,070 – $144,610
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$42,070$161,240

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileMarket Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsMechanical EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$42,070$68,740$-26,670
25th Percentile$56,220$81,800$-25,580
Median (50th)$76,950$102,320$-25,370
75th Percentile$104,870$130,290$-25,420
90th Percentile$144,610$161,240$-16,630
Mean (Average)$86,480$110,080$-23,600

Employment Numbers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

861,140

employed nationwide

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$139,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$124,840
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,390
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$97,360
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$95,930

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: Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists or Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $25,370 (33.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists?
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salaries range from $42,070 (10th percentile) to $144,610 (90th percentile), with a median of $76,950.
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 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 861,140 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists has a median salary of $76,950 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