Mechanical Engineer Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Minnesota is $99,140/year ($47.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $152K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $107,063 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $99K actually covers in Minnesota, month by month
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Mechanical engineers pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $152K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Minnesota
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato | $101K | +2% | 80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $101K | +2% | 4,450 |
| Rochester | $97K | -2% | 120 |
| St. Cloud | $91K | -9% | 120 |
| Duluth | $90K | -9% | 230 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,836/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Minnesota pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Minnesota?
The median is $99,140 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,870, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $151,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $107,063 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.