Mechanical Engineer Salary in Denver, CO
Mechanical Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $128,180 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,946 take-home, or $7,829 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,497
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,947
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,859
- Colorado income tax$4,932
- Take-home pay$93,946
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,880 | $36.00 | $58,922 | $4,910 |
| 25th percentile | $98,600 | $47.40 | $74,565 | $6,214 |
| Median (50th) | $128,180 | $61.63 | $93,946 | $7,829 |
| 75th percentile | $149,790 | $72.01 | $107,765 | $8,980 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,850 | $81.18 | $119,954 | $9,996 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,180 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $93,946 take-home pay has the buying power of $88,810 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.5× 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
Denver, CO ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $93,946 | $88,810 |
*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 Colorado
- Boulder, CO — $124,360
- Colorado Springs, CO — $109,370
- Fort Collins, CO — $102,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Denver, CO?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $128,180 a year, or about $61.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,600 and $149,790.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $128,180 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $93,946 a year ($7,829 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,932 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $88,810 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #15 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 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 Denver, CO
- Petroleum Engineer — $174,580
- Aerospace Engineer — $156,190
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $144,660
- Engineers, All Other — $131,740
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,260
- Materials Engineer — $125,750
- Electrical Engineer — $119,020
- Industrial Engineer — $108,680
- Environmental Engineer — $107,880
- Civil Engineer — $104,710
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,090
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — $93,100