Mechanical Engineer Salary in Nashville, TN
Mechanical Engineers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $99,440 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,786 take-home, or $6,566 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,047
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,165
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,442
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$78,786
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,670 | $25.32 | $44,500 | $3,708 |
| 25th percentile | $80,410 | $38.66 | $65,398 | $5,450 |
| Median (50th) | $99,440 | $47.81 | $78,786 | $6,566 |
| 75th percentile | $130,420 | $62.70 | $100,408 | $8,367 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,990 | $70.19 | $111,050 | $9,254 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,440 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $78,786 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,781 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 Nashville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #40 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 |
| 40 | Nashville, TN | $99,440 | $78,786 | $81,781 |
*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 Tennessee
- Chattanooga, TN — $106,660
- Knoxville, TN — $99,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Nashville, TN?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $99,440 a year, or about $47.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,410 and $130,420.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $99,440 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $78,786 a year ($6,566 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,781 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #40 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- Industrial Engineer — $102,540
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,050
- Electrical Engineer — $99,790
- Civil Engineer — $98,650
- Engineers, All Other — $98,000
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $75,010
- Surveying and Mapping Technician — $53,970