Mechanical Engineer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Mechanical Engineers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $104,410 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,077 take-home, or $6,590 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,140
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,473
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,514
- Pennsylvania income tax$3,205
- Take-home pay$79,077
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $3,905 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $75,172 ($6,264 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,160 | $36.13 | $59,398 | $4,950 |
| 25th percentile | $84,960 | $40.85 | $65,991 | $5,499 |
| Median (50th) | $104,410 | $50.20 | $79,077 | $6,590 |
| 75th percentile | $129,800 | $62.40 | $95,999 | $8,000 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,920 | $75.92 | $114,356 | $9,530 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,410 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $79,077 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,108 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mechanical Engineer jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,410 | $79,077 | $77,108 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $98,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $104,410 a year, or about $50.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,960 and $129,800.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $104,410 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $79,077 a year ($6,590 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,205 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,108 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #16 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Electrical Engineer — $127,730
- Industrial Engineer — $103,370
- Civil Engineer — $99,410