Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Georgia is $100,620/year ($48.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $109,500 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Georgia?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Georgia
Mechanical engineers pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Georgia
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County | $129K | +28% | 980 |
| Albany | $105K | +4% | 40 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $104K | +3% | 50 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $102K | +1% | 3,070 |
| Savannah | $102K | +1% | 190 |
| Warner Robins | $101K | +1% | 340 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $99K | -2% | 50 |
| Gainesville | $93K | -7% | 260 |
| Columbus | $91K | -9% | 80 |
| Dalton | $91K | -10% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,316/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Georgia pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Georgia?
The median is $100,620 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,940, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $156,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,175/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 23.2% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $109,500 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.