Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Alabama is $100,230/year ($48.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $113,434 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 17.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Alabama?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Mechanical engineers pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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, Alabama
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Alabama
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $116K | +15% | 310 |
| Tuscaloosa | $111K | +10% | 90 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $109K | +8% | 80 |
| Mobile | $106K | +5% | 510 |
| Huntsville | $102K | +2% | 2,150 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $100K | +0% | 100 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $99K | -1% | 60 |
| Birmingham | $99K | -1% | 780 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $96K | -5% | 70 |
| Montgomery | $95K | -6% | 330 |
| Dothan | $94K | -6% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,327/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Alabama pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Alabama?
The median is $100,230 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,110, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $162,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,171/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 17.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 engineers salary is worth about $113,434 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers 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.