Mechanical Engineers Salary in Columbus, GA-AL
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Columbus, GA-AL is $97,970/year ($47.1/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $68K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.3), which stretches that salary to about $109,709 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,088/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $98K get you in Columbus?
About mechanical engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbus, GA-AL
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 |
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbus numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineers make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median is $97,970 a year - that works out to about $47.1 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Columbus?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,032/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,088/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 18% 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 Columbus?
Columbus has a Regional Price Parity of 89.3 (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 $109,709 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.