Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Fond du Lac, WI is $95,410/year ($45.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.64), which stretches that salary to about $104,114 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,176/month, or 19.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $95K get you in Fond du Lac?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fond du Lac’s Regional Price Parity (91.64). 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
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What this looks like in Fond du Lac
Mechanical engineers pay in Fond du Lac tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,176/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mechanical engineers in metros near Fond du Lac, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $99K | $102K |
| Madison | $100K | $102K |
| Appleton | $85K | $92K |
| Green Bay | $94K | $101K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fond du Lac, WI
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $84K 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 Fond du Lac numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fond du Lac?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,176/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Fond du Lac?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,478/month. At HUD’s $1,176/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Fond du Lac?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Fond du Lac compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Fond du Lac pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Fond du Lac, WI?
The median is $95,410 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,640, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $158,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Fond du Lac?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,958/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,176/month, which eats 19.7% 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 Fond du Lac?
Fond du Lac has a Regional Price Parity of 91.64 (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 $104,114 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.
