Mechanical Engineer Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Mechanical Engineers in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $135,530 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $100,221 take-home, or $8,352 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,261
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,403
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,965
- Louisiana income tax$3,680
- Take-home pay$100,221
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,690 | $36.87 | $60,867 | $5,072 |
| 25th percentile | $106,480 | $51.19 | $80,931 | $6,744 |
| Median (50th) | $135,530 | $65.16 | $100,221 | $8,352 |
| 75th percentile | $168,960 | $81.23 | $122,068 | $10,172 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,960 | $94.21 | $140,423 | $11,702 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $135,530 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $100,221 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,400 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 Baton Rouge, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA — $117,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $135,530 a year, or about $65.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,480 and $168,960.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $135,530 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $100,221 a year ($8,352 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,680 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,400 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #1 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 13% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
- Industrial Engineer — $129,500
- Civil Engineer — $112,430
- Engineers, All Other — $101,720