How Much Does a Mechanical Engineer Make in the United States in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in the United States
$101,710/yr ($48.90/hr · $79,939 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$79,330 ($38.14/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$137,320 ($66.02/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$3,074.58
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$73.35/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $38.14/hr | $79,330 | −$15,135.35 | $64,194.65 | $2,469.03 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $48.90/hr | $101,710 | −$21,771.02 | $79,938.98 | $3,074.58 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $66.02/hr | $137,320 | −$32,708.78 | $104,611.22 | $4,023.51 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($47.92/hr)California ($57.70/hr)Florida ($46.45/hr)New York ($56.72/hr)Illinois ($50.37/hr)Arizona ($47.43/hr)New Jersey ($54.77/hr)Georgia ($46.94/hr)North Carolina ($46.45/hr)Washington ($56.23/hr)Pennsylvania ($48.41/hr)Ohio ($45.97/hr)Nevada ($47.92/hr)Colorado ($51.83/hr)Virginia ($51.34/hr)Massachusetts ($57.21/hr)Michigan ($46.94/hr)Tennessee ($44.99/hr)Indiana ($45.48/hr)Maryland ($52.81/hr)Minnesota ($50.86/hr)Missouri ($44.99/hr)Wisconsin ($47.43/hr)Oregon ($51.34/hr)Connecticut ($54.28/hr)Utah ($47.43/hr)South Carolina ($44.50/hr)Alabama ($43.03/hr)Louisiana ($43.52/hr)Kentucky ($43.52/hr)Oklahoma ($43.52/hr)Kansas ($44.99/hr)Iowa ($45.48/hr)New Mexico ($44.99/hr)Arkansas ($42.54/hr)Mississippi ($41.56/hr)Nebraska ($45.97/hr)Idaho ($45.48/hr)Hawaii ($52.81/hr)New Hampshire ($50.37/hr)Maine ($46.45/hr)Rhode Island ($49.88/hr)Montana ($44.99/hr)Delaware ($49.39/hr)South Dakota ($44.50/hr)North Dakota ($46.45/hr)Alaska ($53.30/hr)Vermont ($47.92/hr)West Virginia ($42.05/hr)Wyoming ($46.45/hr)