Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Arkansas is $80,180/year ($38.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $91,488 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Arkansas?
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for mechanical engineers in Arkansas runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 19.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for mechanical engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Arkansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $94K | +17% | 330 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $80K | +0% | 260 |
| Fort Smith | $79K | -2% | 150 |
| Jonesboro | $77K | -4% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 19.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,459/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $80K here vs. $104K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Arkansas pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Arkansas?
The median is $80,180 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,650, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $131,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,153/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 19.8% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $91,488 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.