Mechanical Engineers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Washington earn between $100,800 and $160,230.
- $86K10th
- $101K25th
- $127KMedian
- $160K75th
- $195K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $133,380 | $11,115 | $64.12 |
| Median | $126,990 | $10,582 | $61.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $100,800 | $8,400 | $48.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $160,230 | $13,352 | $77.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Washington earn 4% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($138,500) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $133,380 | $126,990 | $85,760 | $195,190 | 5,390 |
| Washington, D.C. | $138,500 | $133,300 | $86,820 | $195,190 | 510 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $133,380, a single filer in Washington takes home about $94,062 a year, or $7,839 a month and $3,618 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $97,212 | $8,101 |
| Working in MD | $96,220 | $8,018 |
| Working in VA | $95,576 | $7,965 |
| Working in DC | $94,062 | $7,839 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $133,380 buys what about $122,497 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$111,780
- Baltimore, MD$123,240
- Winchester, VA$101,470
- Lexington Park, MD$128,200
- Chambersburg, PA$104,680
- Charlottesville, VA$113,400
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 Washington: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Washington?
$64.12 an hour on average, and $61.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $100,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Washington?
About $94,062 a year ($7,839 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $133,380.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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