12. Oklahoma
IM Score: 98
Annual median wage: $77,780
Job growth: 15.5%
Cost of living index: 88.6
Oklahoma currently employs 2,560 mechanical engineers, but there is a projected increase of 400 newly employed in the future. The average annual job openings figure is 120 while the state has one of the lowest cost of living indexes in the nation.
Copyright: microolga / 123RF Stock Photo
