Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines Salary
The median pay for a mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $71,540/year ($34.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $65,705 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 48.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $72K actually covers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 48.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $64K | $66K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $66K | $63K |
| Richmond | $64K | $66K |
| Roanoke | $62K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $83K | +26% | 1,430 |
| Nevada | $80K | +22% | 2,870 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +21% | 2,890 |
| Hawaii | $79K | +21% | 530 |
| Washington | $79K | +20% | 3,900 |
| California | $79K | +20% | 20,080 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +19% | 1,080 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +19% | 3,520 |
| Massachusetts | $76K | +16% | 1,620 |
| North Dakota | $76K | +16% | 1,720 |
| Oregon | $75K | +14% | 2,650 |
| Wyoming | $73K | +12% | 1,420 |
| Montana | $73K | +11% | 1,330 |
| Colorado | $72K | +10% | 4,060 |
| Illinois | $71K | +9% | 3,470 |
| District of Columbia | $71K | +8% | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $69K | +5% | 660 |
| Maryland | $68K | +4% | 1,800 |
| Rhode Island | $68K | +4% | 260 |
| Delaware | $67K | +2% | 540 |
| South Dakota | $67K | +2% | 830 |
| Michigan | $67K | +2% | 3,860 |
| New York | $66K | +1% | 4,700 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -0% | 2,090 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -1% | 1,490 |
| Arizona | $65K | -1% | 7,040 |
| Idaho | $65K | -1% | 1,220 |
| Iowa | $64K | -2% | 2,820 |
| Indiana | $64K | -2% | 3,130 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -2% | 5,100 |
| Vermont | $64K | -2% | 350 |
| Virginia | $64K | -2% | 4,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -3% | 6,870 |
| Alabama | $64K | -3% | 4,640 |
| New Mexico | $64K | -3% | 1,470 |
| Utah | $64K | -3% | 2,230 |
| Florida | $64K | -3% | 9,240 |
| Missouri | $63K | -3% | 3,370 |
| Ohio | $63K | -4% | 6,270 |
| Louisiana | $62K | -5% | 4,270 |
| Texas | $62K | -5% | 20,080 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -6% | 2,600 |
| Maine | $61K | -6% | 1,490 |
| Kansas | $61K | -7% | 1,690 |
| Georgia | $61K | -8% | 6,270 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -8% | 1,190 |
| Kentucky | $59K | -10% | 2,540 |
| South Carolina | $59K | -10% | 2,830 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -11% | 1,690 |
| Oklahoma | $58K | -11% | 2,800 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -13% | 2,110 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engine afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 48.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,346/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $71,540 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,810, and experienced mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines can clear $93,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,618/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 48.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines salary is worth about $65,705 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.