Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Indiana is $99,590/year ($47.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $108,474 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 17.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Indiana?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Mechanical engineers pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 18.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (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, Indiana
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $128K | +28% | 1,000 |
| Kokomo | $105K | +6% | 300 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $101K | +1% | 510 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $99K | -1% | 2,140 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $98K | -2% | 720 |
| Bloomington | $98K | -2% | 90 |
| Fort Wayne | $95K | -4% | 560 |
| Evansville | $95K | -4% | 220 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $93K | -7% | 110 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $89K | -11% | 190 |
| Muncie | $86K | -14% | 60 |
| Terre Haute | $84K | -16% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 18.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,980/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Indiana pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Indiana?
The median is $99,590 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,330, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $143,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,284/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 18.2% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $108,474 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.