Mechanical Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Mechanical Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $125,350 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,943 take-home, or $8,079 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,818
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,772
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,818
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$96,943
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,470 | $38.21 | $64,737 | $5,395 |
| 25th percentile | $99,080 | $47.63 | $78,533 | $6,544 |
| Median (50th) | $125,350 | $60.26 | $96,943 | $8,079 |
| 75th percentile | $164,640 | $79.15 | $123,797 | $10,316 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $198,730 | $95.54 | $147,980 | $12,332 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,350 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $96,943 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,290 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× 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
Houston, TX ranks #2 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 |
*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 Texas
- Dallas, TX — $105,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $125,350 a year, or about $60.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,080 and $164,640.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $125,350 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $96,943 a year ($8,079 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,290 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #2 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Civil Engineer — $100,950
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $97,590
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $76,120
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $63,120
- Surveying and Mapping Technician — $49,570