Mechanical Engineers pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $139,800 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Richmond earn between $83,270 and $123,380.
- $74K10th
- $83K25th
- $104KMedian
- $123K75th
- $140K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,960 | $8,913 | $51.42 |
| Median | $104,130 | $8,678 | $50.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,270 | $6,939 | $40.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,380 | $10,282 | $59.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Richmond earn 7% less than the Virginia average ($114,770) and 6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $106,960 | $104,130 | $73,990 | $139,800 | 640 |
| Virginia | $114,770 | $104,180 | $77,840 | $160,770 | 7,470 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $106,960, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $78,740 a year, or $6,562 a month and $3,028 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $106,960 buys what about $109,301 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 2nd of 8 Virginia metro areas for this job; Charlottesville pays the most ($113,400).
- Charlottesville$113,400
- Richmond$106,960
- Virginia Beach$102,540
- Roanoke$101,740
- Winchester$101,470
- Blacksburg$99,880
- Lynchburg$99,550
- Staunton$91,590
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 Richmond: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Richmond?
$51.42 an hour on average, and $50.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Richmond?
About $78,740 a year ($6,562 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,960.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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