Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Wisconsin is $95,870/year ($46.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $101,633 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in Wisconsin?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Mechanical engineers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $102K | +7% | 190 |
| Madison | $100K | +4% | 770 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $99K | +3% | 2,200 |
| Sheboygan | $98K | +3% | 250 |
| Fond du Lac | $95K | -0% | 210 |
| Green Bay | $94K | -1% | 460 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $94K | -2% | 150 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $93K | -3% | 290 |
| Appleton | $85K | -11% | 460 |
| Kenosha | $85K | -12% | 140 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $83K | -14% | 330 |
| Wausau | $79K | -17% | 240 |
| Eau Claire | $78K | -18% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,891/month. At HUD’s $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Wisconsin pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $95,870 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,850, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $130,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,983/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $101,633 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.