Mechanical Engineer Salary in Kansas City, MO
Mechanical Engineers in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $99,630 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,174 take-home, or $6,265 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,089
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,177
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,445
- Missouri income tax$3,745
- Take-home pay$75,174
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $996 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $74,178 ($6,182 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,070 | $37.53 | $61,020 | $5,085 |
| 25th percentile | $83,320 | $40.06 | $64,467 | $5,372 |
| Median (50th) | $99,630 | $47.90 | $75,174 | $6,265 |
| 75th percentile | $120,990 | $58.17 | $89,197 | $7,433 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,650 | $65.70 | $99,181 | $8,265 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,630 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $75,174 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,232 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kansas City, MO has 2.1× 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
Kansas City, MO ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $99,630 | $75,174 | $81,232 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Kansas City, MO?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $99,630 a year, or about $47.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,320 and $120,990.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $99,630 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $75,174 a year ($6,265 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,745 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,232 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #10 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- Civil Engineer — $98,860