Mechanical Engineers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $139,810 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Lexington earn between $81,950 and $125,510.
- $68K10th
- $82K25th
- $104KMedian
- $126K75th
- $140K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,220 | $8,852 | $51.07 |
| Median | $103,820 | $8,652 | $49.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,950 | $6,829 | $39.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $125,510 | $10,459 | $60.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($103,320) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $106,220 | $103,820 | $68,490 | $139,810 | 900 |
| Kentucky | $103,320 | $101,050 | $65,370 | $139,810 | 4,170 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $106,220, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $77,035 a year, or $6,420 a month and $2,963 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $106,220 buys what about $114,352 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($110,100).
- Elizabethtown$110,100
- Lexington$106,220
- Louisville$101,310
- Owensboro$99,870
- Bowling Green$99,520
- Paducah$99,440
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Lexington: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Lexington?
$51.07 an hour on average, and $49.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $77,035 a year ($6,420 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,220. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.65, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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