Mechanical Engineers Salary in Appleton, WI
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Appleton, WI is $92,300/year ($44.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.42), which stretches that salary to about $99,870 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,236/month, or 21.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $92K get you in Appleton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Appleton’s Regional Price Parity (92.42). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Appleton, WI
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $141K | +38% | 1,690 |
| District of Columbia | $130K | +27% | 590 |
| Alaska | $130K | +27% | 530 |
| California | $126K | +24% | 27,090 |
| Massachusetts | $123K | +20% | 9,430 |
| Wyoming | $117K | +14% | 300 |
| Rhode Island | $115K | +13% | 1,400 |
| Louisiana | $114K | +11% | 1,650 |
| Maryland | $112K | +9% | 6,330 |
| Washington | $109K | +7% | 9,350 |
| Texas | $108K | +6% | 18,790 |
| New Jersey | $107K | +5% | 4,440 |
| Connecticut | $107K | +4% | 5,310 |
| Delaware | $106K | +4% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $105K | +3% | 5,060 |
| New York | $105K | +3% | 8,420 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | +2% | 2,580 |
| Idaho | $104K | +1% | 970 |
| Michigan | $103K | +0% | 31,830 |
| Arizona | $103K | +0% | 5,440 |
| Maine | $102K | -1% | 940 |
| Oregon | $101K | -1% | 3,080 |
| North Carolina | $101K | -1% | 9,390 |
| West Virginia | $101K | -2% | 860 |
| Vermont | $101K | -2% | 530 |
| Illinois | $100K | -3% | 9,920 |
| Kentucky | $99K | -3% | 3,050 |
| Virginia | $99K | -3% | 7,960 |
| Tennessee | $99K | -3% | 3,680 |
| Montana | $99K | -3% | 580 |
| Indiana | $99K | -3% | 8,650 |
| Utah | $99K | -3% | 3,540 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -3% | 5,970 |
| Nevada | $98K | -4% | 1,090 |
| Iowa | $98K | -5% | 4,230 |
| Alabama | $98K | -5% | 5,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $97K | -5% | 14,300 |
| Florida | $97K | -5% | 8,860 |
| Georgia | $97K | -5% | 5,180 |
| Ohio | $96K | -6% | 16,420 |
| Hawaii | $95K | -7% | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $95K | -7% | 8,060 |
| Missouri | $92K | -10% | 3,950 |
| Kansas | $92K | -10% | 4,120 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -11% | 1,210 |
| South Dakota | $91K | -11% | 680 |
| Oklahoma | $91K | -12% | 2,250 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -18% | 770 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -19% | 860 |
| Arkansas | $79K | -23% | 1,150 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Appleton numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineers make in Appleton, WI?
The median is $92,300 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,520, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $125,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Appleton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,789/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,236/month, which eats 21.4% 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 Appleton?
Appleton has a Regional Price Parity of 92.42 (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 $99,870 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.