Mechanical Engineer Salary in Atlanta, GA
Mechanical Engineers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $102,020 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,929 take-home, or $6,327 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,614
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,325
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,479
- Georgia income tax$4,672
- Take-home pay$75,929
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,800 | $35.00 | $56,889 | $4,741 |
| 25th percentile | $80,360 | $38.63 | $61,815 | $5,151 |
| Median (50th) | $102,020 | $49.05 | $75,929 | $6,327 |
| 75th percentile | $133,770 | $64.31 | $96,378 | $8,031 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,990 | $79.80 | $116,728 | $9,727 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,020 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $75,929 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,885 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 less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #99 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | $100,221 | $110,400 |
| 2 | Beaumont, TX | $122,280 | $94,844 | $105,329 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | $93,013 | $101,953 |
| 4 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | $94,811 | $101,944 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 6 | Augusta, GA | $128,740 | $93,201 | $101,412 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $124,780 | $96,553 | $96,477 |
| 99 | Atlanta, GA | $102,020 | $75,929 | $75,885 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Augusta, GA — $128,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Atlanta, GA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $102,020 a year, or about $49.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,360 and $133,770.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $102,020 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $75,929 a year ($6,327 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,672 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,885 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #99 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $135,350
- Engineers, All Other — $122,570
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $103,330
- Industrial Engineer — $102,300
- Materials Engineer — $101,100
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $100,220
- Environmental Engineer — $96,820
- Civil Engineer — $88,000
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $78,610
- Mechanical Drafter — $75,360
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $74,180
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $67,850