Mechanical Engineer Salary in Grand Rapids, MI
Mechanical Engineers in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area earn a median $96,610 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,940 take-home, or $6,078 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Grand Rapids, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,424
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,990
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,401
- Michigan income tax$3,855
- Take-home pay$72,940
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Grand Rapids? City residents also pay Grand Rapids’s city income tax — about $1,449 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $71,491 ($5,958 a month). Choose “Grand Rapids” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Grand Rapids, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,870 | $29.75 | $49,514 | $4,126 |
| 25th percentile | $76,960 | $37.00 | $59,951 | $4,996 |
| Median (50th) | $96,610 | $46.45 | $72,940 | $6,078 |
| 75th percentile | $110,230 | $53.00 | $81,943 | $6,829 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,060 | $62.05 | $94,244 | $7,854 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,610 buys in Grand Rapids, MI
Prices in Grand Rapids, MI are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $72,940 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,340 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Grand Rapids, MI has 2.8× the national concentration of mechanical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Grand Rapids, MI ranks #19 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $108,687 | $94,009 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $93,946 | $88,810 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $97,790 | $87,994 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $80,065 | $83,952 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,990 | $90,238 | $82,875 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $85,723 | $82,042 |
| 19 | Grand Rapids, MI | $96,610 | $72,940 | $76,340 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: mechanical engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +11.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Detroit, MI — $109,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area is $96,610 a year, or about $46.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,960 and $110,230.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI?
On the median $96,610 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $72,940 a year ($6,078 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,855 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Grand Rapids, MI a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,340 would in a typical U.S. city. Grand Rapids, MI ranks #19 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Grand Rapids, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Grand Rapids, MI is $1,242 a month ($1,479 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Grand Rapids, MI
- Industrial Engineer — $98,940