Mechanical Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Mechanical Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $125,350 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,943 take-home, or $8,079 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,818
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,772
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,818
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$96,943
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,470 | $38.21 | $64,737 | $5,395 |
| 25th percentile | $99,080 | $47.63 | $78,533 | $6,544 |
| Median (50th) | $125,350 | $60.26 | $96,943 | $8,079 |
| 75th percentile | $164,640 | $79.15 | $123,797 | $10,316 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $198,730 | $95.54 | $147,980 | $12,332 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,350 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $96,943 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,290 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× 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
Houston, TX ranks #7 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 Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $122,280
- San Antonio, TX — $104,620
- Austin, TX — $106,690
- Dallas, TX — $105,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $125,350 a year, or about $60.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,080 and $164,640.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $125,350 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $96,943 a year ($8,079 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,290 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #7 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Chemical Engineer — $138,120
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $137,740
- Aerospace Engineer — $133,970
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $130,280
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,630
- Environmental Engineer — $127,340
- Materials Engineer — $123,250
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Landscape Architect — $103,670