Mechanical Engineers pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $151,490 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Paducah earn between $75,410 and $124,330.
- $61K10th
- $75K25th
- $94KMedian
- $124K75th
- $151K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,440 | $8,287 | $47.81 |
| Median | $94,060 | $7,838 | $45.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,410 | $6,284 | $36.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $124,330 | $10,361 | $59.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Paducah
On the average salary of $99,440, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $73,434 a year, or $6,120 a month and $2,824 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $74,005 | $6,167 |
| Working in KY | $73,434 | $6,120 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $99,440 buys what about $115,515 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 1.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($110,100).
- Elizabethtown$110,100
- Lexington$106,220
- Louisville$101,310
- Owensboro$99,870
- Bowling Green$99,520
- Paducah$99,440
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Paducah: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Paducah?
$47.81 an hour on average, and $45.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Paducah?
About $73,434 a year ($6,120 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,440. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($114,695).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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