Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Pennsylvania is $70,820/year ($34.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $74,571 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Pennsylvania?
About mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in Pennsylvania
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover | $81K | +15% | 90 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $78K | +10% | 170 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $73K | +3% | 420 |
| Pittsburgh | $72K | +2% | 310 |
| Reading | $67K | -5% | 70 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $65K | -8% | 50 |
| Lancaster | $63K | -11% | 110 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $51K | -27% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,977/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians?
Pennsylvania pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $70,820 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,620, and experienced mechanical engineering technologists and technicians can clear $100,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,670/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $74,571 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.