Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Roanoke, VA is $102,160/year ($49.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.62), which stretches that salary to about $109,122 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,254/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Roanoke?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Roanoke’s Regional Price Parity (93.62). 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 Roanoke
Mechanical engineers pay in Roanoke tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,254/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.62 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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 Roanoke, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $100K | $102K |
| Richmond | $104K | $106K |
| Lynchburg | $95K | $106K |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $84K | $93K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Roanoke, VA
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $54K 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 Roanoke numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Roanoke?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,254/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Roanoke?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,637/month. At HUD’s $1,254/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Roanoke?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Roanoke compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Roanoke pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.62), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Roanoke, VA?
The median is $102,160 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,280, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $131,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Roanoke?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,242/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,254/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 Roanoke?
Roanoke has a Regional Price Parity of 93.62 (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 $109,122 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.