Quel est le salaire d'un ingénieur mécanique en 2026 ?

Selon le baromètre des rémunérations Volta Executive 2026, en base nationale et en brut annuel fixe : 35 à 40 k€ en début de carrière et 60 à 70 k€ après dix ans.

Que fait un ingénieur mécanique ?

Il conçoit et dimensionne des pièces, des machines ou des installations, choisit les matériaux, conduit les essais et accompagne l'industrialisation.

Quelle formation pour devenir ingénieur mécanique ?

Un diplôme d'ingénieur en génie mécanique ou un master en mécanique, Bac+5.

Dans quels secteurs travaille un ingénieur mécanique ?

Fabrication d'équipements et de machines, aéronautique et défense, nucléaire, énergie, sociétés d'ingénierie.

Les salaires sont-ils plus élevés à Paris ?

Les grilles du site sont écrites en base nationale. À poste équivalent, Paris se situe environ 12 % au-dessus et les autres régions environ 5 % en dessous, sur le fixe.

Job profile 2026

What is a mechanical engineer? Job profile, salary and hiring in 2026

The mechanical engineer designs, calculates and develops parts, machines and installations: sizing, choice of materials, testing and industrialisation. In energy, they work on pressure equipment, turbines, boilers or structures subject to demanding design codes.

In brief: mechanical engineer salary, €35-40k at the start of a career, €60-70k after ten years. Source: Pay barometer Industry and Energy 2026, Volta Executive; Energy and Transition barometer 2026, Volta Executive, updated on 8 October 2026.

By Florian Beurtey, engineer and founder of Volta Executive. Published on 8 October 2026, updated on 8 October 2026.

Mechanical engineer : the role in figures

Mechanical engineer salary	€35-40k at the start of a career, €60-70k after ten years
Stress engineer salary (nuclear)	€34-41k to €62-73k
Shortage level	High for stress and mechanical engineers (aerospace, nuclear, defence)
Common qualifications	Engineering degree or master's in mechanical engineering

Duties of the mechanical engineer

Design and size parts, machines or installations
Carry out or manage strength and fatigue calculations
Choose materials and manufacturing processes
Run tests and analyse failures
Support industrialisation and suppliers

Skills required

Structural analysis and numerical simulation
Computer-aided design
Materials, manufacturing processes, tolerancing
Design codes and standards of their sector
Documentation rigour and justification of choices

Reference codes and standards

Eurocodes	European standards for structural design
RCC-M	Design and construction rules for mechanical components of nuclear islands
PED	European Pressure Equipment Directive

Training to become a mechanical engineer

Engineering degree in mechanical engineering, Bac+5
Master's in mechanical or structural engineering, Bac+5

Career paths

Design or stress engineer
Project engineer or project manager
Head of the design office
Technical director

Salary of the mechanical engineer in 2026

National basis, fixed annual gross, excluding variable pay and role allowances. The Paris and region columns are derived from the barometer's reference framework (Paris about 12% higher, regions about 5% lower, except for roles in extreme shortage, which are aligned with the national figure).

Mechanical engineer

Seniority	National	Paris	Region
0 to 2 years	35–40 k€	39–45 k€	33–38 k€
2 to 5 years	40–50 k€	45–56 k€	38–48 k€
5 to 10 years	50–60 k€	56–67 k€	48–57 k€
10+ years	60–70 k€	67–78 k€	57–67 k€

Design and stress engineer (nuclear, RCC-M)

Seniority	National	Paris	Region
0 to 2 years	34–41 k€	38–46 k€	32–39 k€
2 to 5 years	41–50 k€	46–56 k€	39–48 k€
5 to 10 years	50–62 k€	56–69 k€	48–59 k€
10+ years	62–73 k€	69–82 k€	59–69 k€

Variable pay remains limited in these roles; moving into management or technical leadership is what makes the real difference in salary.

Source: Pay barometer Industry and Energy 2026, Volta Executive; Energy and Transition barometer 2026, Volta Executive. Figures in €k gross per year.

The full barometer, role by role

This profile reproduces part of the grids of Volta Executive's 2026 Industry and Energy Pay Barometer. The barometer covers every role in industry and energy, with lead times and shortage levels.

See all the barometer's salary grids Download the PDF

Mechanical engineer : the market in 2026

€35-40k

Fixed salary at the start of a career

€60-70k

Fixed salary after ten years

High

Shortage of stress and mechanical engineers (Volta's list of 52 roles in short supply)

Stress and mechanical engineers are fought over by aerospace, nuclear, defence and R&D. Profiles experienced with demanding codes (RCC-M, Eurocodes) are rare and in post.

Who is hiring

Equipment and machine manufacturers, aerospace and defence, nuclear, energy (turbines, boilers, pressure equipment), engineering firms.

Hiring a mechanical engineer?

Experienced mechanical engineers are fought over by several sectors. Volta Executive recruits experienced engineers, managers and heads of design offices through direct search.

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Frequently asked questions about the role of the mechanical engineer

What is a mechanical engineer's salary in 2026?

According to the Volta Executive 2026 pay barometer, on a national basis and fixed annual gross: €35-40k at the start of a career and €60-70k after ten years.

What does a mechanical engineer do?

They design and size parts, machines or installations, choose materials, run tests and support industrialisation.

What training do you need to become a mechanical engineer?

An engineering degree in mechanical engineering or a master's in mechanical engineering, Bac+5.

Which sectors does a mechanical engineer work in?

Equipment and machine manufacturing, aerospace and defence, nuclear, energy, engineering firms.

Are salaries higher in Paris?

The site's grids are written on a national basis. For an equivalent role, Paris is about 12% higher and the other regions about 5% lower, on fixed pay.

Other job profiles

Learn more

Sources and method

Industry and Energy Pay Barometer 2026, Volta Executive
Energy and Transition Barometer 2026, Volta Executive
List of the 52 roles in short supply in 2026, Volta Executive

The grids are on a national basis, fixed annual gross. Paris and region values are calculated with the barometer's geographic reference framework.