Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Nebraska is $88,060/year ($42.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $97,790 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $88K get you in Nebraska?
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for mechanical engineers in Nebraska runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Nebraska can be a reasonable trade-off for mechanical engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Nebraska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $100K | +14% | 160 |
| Omaha | $93K | +6% | 490 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,712/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Nebraska?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $88K here vs. $104K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Nebraska pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Nebraska?
The median is $88,060 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,860, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $136,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,527/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 20.1% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $97,790 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.