Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Ann Arbor, MI is $127,310/year ($61.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.88), that's roughly $126,199 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,656/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $127K get you in Ann Arbor?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ann Arbor’s Regional Price Parity (100.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor sits well above the national pay line for mechanical engineers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,656/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Ann Arbor offers a genuinely strong financial position for mechanical engineerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mechanical engineers in metros near Ann Arbor, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $109K | $109K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $97K | $101K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $99K | $104K |
| Niles | $106K | $115K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ann Arbor, MI
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mechanical Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158K | +51% | 2,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133K | +28% | 510 |
| California | $131K | +26% | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125K | +20% | 610 |
| Colorado | $124K | +20% | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124K | +19% | 380 |
| Maryland | $123K | +18% | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $120K | +15% | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119K | +15% | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $118K | +13% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $116K | +12% | 1,560 |
| Texas | $112K | +8% | 22,080 |
| New Jersey | $112K | +8% | 4,180 |
| Washington | $110K | +6% | 8,240 |
| Vermont | $107K | +3% | 530 |
| Connecticut | $105K | +1% | 4,600 |
| Michigan | $105K | +1% | 34,630 |
| South Carolina | $105K | +0% | 5,780 |
| Virginia | $104K | +0% | 7,470 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | -0% | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $103K | -1% | 2,920 |
| Illinois | $103K | -1% | 11,790 |
| Nevada | $103K | -1% | 1,410 |
| Utah | $103K | -2% | 3,370 |
| New York | $102K | -2% | 8,590 |
| Maine | $102K | -2% | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $102K | -2% | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $101K | -3% | 4,170 |
| North Carolina | $101K | -3% | 9,560 |
| Georgia | $101K | -3% | 5,290 |
| Arizona | $100K | -4% | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $100K | -4% | N/A |
| Florida | $100K | -4% | 10,740 |
| Indiana | $100K | -4% | 8,690 |
| Tennessee | $100K | -4% | 3,930 |
| Missouri | $99K | -5% | 4,870 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -5% | 5,890 |
| Ohio | $99K | -5% | 14,390 |
| Hawaii | $99K | -5% | 530 |
| Mississippi | $98K | -6% | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -6% | 13,550 |
| Iowa | $98K | -6% | 3,470 |
| West Virginia | $97K | -6% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $96K | -8% | 7,470 |
| Montana | $94K | -10% | 500 |
| Idaho | $93K | -10% | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $88K | -15% | 560 |
| Nebraska | $88K | -15% | 950 |
| North Dakota | $86K | -17% | 790 |
| Kansas | $86K | -17% | 4,630 |
| Arkansas | $80K | -23% | 1,410 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ann Arbor numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ann Arbor?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,656/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Ann Arbor?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,603/month. At HUD’s $1,656/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Ann Arbor?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $127K here vs. $104K nationally.
How does Ann Arbor compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Ann Arbor pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median is $127,310 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,710, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $160,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Ann Arbor?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,697/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,656/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has a Regional Price Parity of 100.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mechanical engineers salary is worth about $126,199 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.