Mechanical Engineers pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,920 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in State College earn between $79,010 and $102,920.
- $65K10th
- $79K25th
- $91KMedian
- $103K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,330 | $7,861 | $45.35 |
| Median | $90,530 | $7,544 | $43.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,010 | $6,584 | $37.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,920 | $8,577 | $49.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $94,330, a single filer in State College takes home about $72,295 a year, or $6,025 a month and $2,781 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is State College a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $94,330 buys what about $97,487 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 10th of 15 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($112,030).
- Philadelphia$112,030
- Allentown$110,500
- Erie$107,050
- Chambersburg$104,680
- Pittsburgh$102,860
- Reading$99,080
- York$98,650
- Harrisburg$98,180
- Lebanon$96,730
- State College$94,330
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 State College: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in State College?
$45.35 an hour on average, and $43.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in State College?
About $72,295 a year ($6,025 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,330. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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