Mechanical Engineer Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in North Dakota is $86,330/year ($41.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $97,120 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 18.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $86K actually covers in North Dakota, month by month
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for mechanical engineers in North Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 18.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for mechanical engineers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $91K | +6% | 90 |
| Fargo | $86K | +0% | 290 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 18.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,343/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $86K here vs. $104K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
North Dakota pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in North Dakota?
The median is $86,330 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,930, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $136,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,620/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 18.4% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $97,120 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.