Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines Salary
The median pay for a mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines in Virginia is $63,950/year ($30.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $67,465 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 39.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Virginia?
About mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
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What this looks like in Virginia
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 39.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $66K | +3% | 80 |
| Charlottesville | $65K | +1% | 60 |
| Richmond | $64K | +1% | 930 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $64K | +0% | 950 |
| Winchester | $63K | -1% | 120 |
| Harrisonburg | $63K | -2% | 100 |
| Roanoke | $62K | -3% | 310 |
| Lynchburg | $61K | -5% | 110 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $59K | -8% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engine afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 39.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,732/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engine a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines?
Virginia pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines make in Virginia?
The median is $63,950 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,540, and experienced mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines can clear $82,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,185/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 39.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines salary is worth about $67,465 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines 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.