Mechanical Engineer Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Colorado is $124,430/year ($59.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $119,979 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $124K actually covers in Colorado, 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 Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for mechanical engineers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for mechanical engineers at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $128K | +3% | 4,530 |
| Boulder | $124K | -0% | 1,130 |
| Colorado Springs | $109K | -12% | 500 |
| Greeley | $109K | -13% | 150 |
| Pueblo | $106K | -15% | 70 |
| Grand Junction | $105K | -15% | 90 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $103K | -17% | 450 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado 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 Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,826/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Colorado?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $124K here vs. $104K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Colorado pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Colorado?
The median is $124,430 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,100, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $170,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,527/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $119,979 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.