Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in West Virginia is $47,660/year ($22.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $53,533 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in West Virginia?
About mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in West Virginia runs about 36% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in West Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $48K | +0% | N/A |
| Huntington-Ashland | $47K | -1% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 31.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,937/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 36% below the national median — $48K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians?
West Virginia pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -36%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in West Virginia?
The median is $47,660 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,290, and experienced mechanical engineering technologists and technicians can clear $79,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,228/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 31.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $53,533 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.