Mechanical Engineer Salary in Austin, TX
Mechanical Engineers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $106,690 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $83,886 take-home, or $6,991 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,642
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,615
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,547
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$83,886
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,080 | $32.73 | $56,724 | $4,727 |
| 25th percentile | $92,130 | $44.29 | $73,643 | $6,137 |
| Median (50th) | $106,690 | $51.29 | $83,886 | $6,991 |
| 75th percentile | $145,090 | $69.75 | $110,435 | $9,203 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,210 | $83.27 | $129,655 | $10,805 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,690 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $83,886 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,541 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 Austin, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $106,690 | $83,886 | $85,541 |
*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 Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $122,280
- Houston, TX — $125,350
- San Antonio, TX — $104,620
- Dallas, TX — $105,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Austin, TX?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $106,690 a year, or about $51.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $92,130 and $145,090.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $106,690 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $83,886 a year ($6,991 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,541 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #26 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $165,530
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $162,960
- Electrical Engineer — $145,360
- Engineers, All Other — $109,610
- Industrial Engineer — $103,610
- Civil Engineer — $100,470
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $96,600
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $74,230
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $69,970
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $66,910
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $62,320
- Surveyor — $57,580