Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Texas is $112,410/year ($54.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $122,866 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $112K get you in Texas?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Texas
Mechanical engineers pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $112K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 19.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $112K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Texas
23 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $125K | +12% | 8,310 |
| Midland | $125K | +11% | 250 |
| Corpus Christi | $124K | +11% | 280 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $122K | +9% | 470 |
| Odessa | $112K | -1% | 120 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $107K | -5% | 1,790 |
| Texarkana | $106K | -5% | 70 |
| Tyler | $106K | -5% | 160 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $105K | -6% | 5,600 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $105K | -7% | 1,480 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $102K | -9% | 230 |
| Longview | $100K | -11% | 230 |
| Abilene | $99K | -12% | 50 |
| Amarillo | $99K | -12% | 130 |
| Waco | $97K | -14% | 200 |
| Wichita Falls | $96K | -15% | 60 |
| Killeen-Temple | $95K | -16% | 110 |
| El Paso | $91K | -19% | 200 |
| Lubbock | $91K | -19% | 130 |
| Sherman-Denison | $90K | -20% | 70 |
| College Station-Bryan | $84K | -25% | 100 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $81K | -28% | 90 |
| San Angelo | $76K | -32% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 metros
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Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $112K, rent takes 19.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,549/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $112K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Texas pays $112K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Texas?
The median is $112,410 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,810, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $175,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $112K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,289/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 19.4% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $122,866 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.