Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA is $102,020/year ($49.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.06), that's roughly $101,959 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,820/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell’s Regional Price Parity (100.06). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Mechanical engineers pay in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,820/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mechanical engineers in metros near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County | $129K | $140K |
| Warner Robins | $101K | $108K |
| Gainesville | $93K | $97K |
| Savannah | $102K | $107K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $93K 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,820/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,368/month. At HUD’s $1,820/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The median is $102,020 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,800, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $165,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,251/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,820/month, which eats 29.1% 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a Regional Price Parity of 100.06 (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 $101,959 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.