Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Omaha, NE-IA is $93,180/year ($44.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.91), which stretches that salary to about $101,382 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,368/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $93K get you in Omaha?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Omaha’s Regional Price Parity (91.91). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Omaha
Mechanical engineers pay in Omaha tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,368/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.91 (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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mechanical engineers in metros near Omaha, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $100K | $110K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $128K | , |
| Kansas City | $100K | $108K |
| St. Louis | $100K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Omaha, NE-IA
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mechanical Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158K | +51% | 2,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133K | +28% | 510 |
| California | $131K | +26% | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125K | +20% | 610 |
| Colorado | $124K | +20% | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124K | +19% | 380 |
| Maryland | $123K | +18% | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $120K | +15% | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119K | +15% | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $118K | +13% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $116K | +12% | 1,560 |
| Texas | $112K | +8% | 22,080 |
| New Jersey | $112K | +8% | 4,180 |
| Washington | $110K | +6% | 8,240 |
| Vermont | $107K | +3% | 530 |
| Connecticut | $105K | +1% | 4,600 |
| Michigan | $105K | +1% | 34,630 |
| South Carolina | $105K | +0% | 5,780 |
| Virginia | $104K | +0% | 7,470 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | -0% | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $103K | -1% | 2,920 |
| Illinois | $103K | -1% | 11,790 |
| Nevada | $103K | -1% | 1,410 |
| Utah | $103K | -2% | 3,370 |
| New York | $102K | -2% | 8,590 |
| Maine | $102K | -2% | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $102K | -2% | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $101K | -3% | 4,170 |
| North Carolina | $101K | -3% | 9,560 |
| Georgia | $101K | -3% | 5,290 |
| Arizona | $100K | -4% | 5,050 |
| Alabama | $100K | -4% | N/A |
| Florida | $100K | -4% | 10,740 |
| Indiana | $100K | -4% | 8,690 |
| Tennessee | $100K | -4% | 3,930 |
| Missouri | $99K | -5% | 4,870 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -5% | 5,890 |
| Ohio | $99K | -5% | 14,390 |
| Hawaii | $99K | -5% | 530 |
| Mississippi | $98K | -6% | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -6% | 13,550 |
| Iowa | $98K | -6% | 3,470 |
| West Virginia | $97K | -6% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $96K | -8% | 7,470 |
| Montana | $94K | -10% | 500 |
| Idaho | $93K | -10% | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $88K | -15% | 560 |
| Nebraska | $88K | -15% | 950 |
| North Dakota | $86K | -17% | 790 |
| Kansas | $86K | -17% | 4,630 |
| Arkansas | $80K | -23% | 1,410 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Omaha numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Omaha?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,368/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Omaha?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,588/month. At HUD’s $1,368/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Omaha?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Omaha compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Omaha pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.91), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Omaha, NE-IA?
The median is $93,180 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,800, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $135,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Omaha?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,802/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,368/month, which eats 23.6% 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 Omaha?
Omaha has a Regional Price Parity of 91.91 (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 $101,382 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.