Mechanical Engineer 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:
Where the paycheck goes
What $80K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
About mechanical engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
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 engineers 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 annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
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 $3,857/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 26% 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.