Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Kansas is $86,260/year ($41.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $96,337 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,066/month, or 19.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in Kansas?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Kansas
Pay for mechanical engineers in Kansas runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,066/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Kansas can be a reasonable trade-off for mechanical engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Kansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $99K | +14% | 160 |
| Lawrence | $95K | +10% | 60 |
| Wichita | $95K | +10% | 800 |
| Manhattan | $83K | -4% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,333/month. At HUD’s $1,066/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Kansas?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $86K here vs. $104K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Kansas pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Kansas?
The median is $86,260 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,210, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $131,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/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 Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (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 $96,337 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.