Mechanical engineer pay by city
Across the 50 largest US metros, typical mechanical engineer pay ranges from $96,610 in Grand Rapids, MI to $168,030 in San Jose, CA. After taxes and local prices, it goes furthest in San Jose, CA, Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Mechanical Engineers, SOC 17-2141).
| Rank | Metro | Typical pay | Worth after taxes and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $103,900 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $98,300 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $95,800 |
| 4 | Memphis, TN | $104,110 | $89,000 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $88,700 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $88,000 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $104,620 | $87,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $106,690 | $85,500 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,600 | $84,400 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $126,990 | $82,900 |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $82,000 |
| 12 | Providence, RI | $111,360 | $82,000 |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $99,440 | $81,800 |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $120,970 | $81,500 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $96,930 | $81,000 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $105,420 | $80,500 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $103,380 | $80,400 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $119,300 | $80,300 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $99,630 | $80,200 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $98,810 | $79,300 |
| 21 | Jacksonville, FL | $99,500 | $79,200 |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC | $101,950 | $79,100 |
| 23 | Tampa, FL | $100,290 | $78,700 |
| 24 | Columbus, OH | $100,730 | $78,700 |
| 25 | Detroit, MI | $109,470 | $78,600 |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | $99,290 | $78,600 |
| 27 | Richmond, VA | $104,130 | $78,600 |
| 28 | Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $78,500 |
| 29 | St. Louis, MO | $100,340 | $78,500 |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $121,750 | $78,100 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $123,900 | $78,000 |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $97,220 | $77,600 |
| 33 | Raleigh, NC | $100,000 | $77,100 |
| 34 | Hartford, CT | $105,980 | $77,100 |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $98,730 | $76,800 |
| 36 | Indianapolis, IN | $98,680 | $76,700 |
| 37 | Virginia Beach, VA | $100,280 | $76,000 |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $102,020 | $75,900 |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $98,050 | $75,800 |
| 40 | Buffalo, NY | $97,200 | $75,700 |
| 41 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,980 | $75,100 |
| 42 | Salt Lake City, UT | $101,500 | $75,000 |
| 43 | Grand Rapids, MI | $96,610 | $74,900 |
| 44 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,410 | $73,300 |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | $102,070 | $73,100 |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $104,910 | $72,500 |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $101,180 | $71,200 |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $105,020 | $70,400 |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $99,660 | $69,100 |
| 50 | New York, NY | $109,990 | $68,300 |
“Worth” is take-home pay at the typical salary (single filer, 2026 income taxes), divided by local prices, so every city is in the same typical-US-city dollars.
Common questions
Which city pays mechanical engineers the most?
Before taxes, San Jose, CA has the highest typical mechanical engineer pay among the 50 largest US metros: $168,030 a year. The lowest is Grand Rapids, MI at $96,610. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Where does mechanical engineer pay go furthest after cost of living?
After federal, state, and local income taxes and local prices, typical mechanical engineer pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA, Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA. It goes the least far in New York, NY, where it's worth about $68,300 in typical-US-city dollars.