Mechanical Engineer Salary in New Orleans, LA
Mechanical Engineers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $117,990 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,683 take-home, or $7,390 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,128
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,315
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,711
- Louisiana income tax$3,153
- Take-home pay$88,683
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,340 | $36.22 | $59,958 | $4,996 |
| 25th percentile | $83,790 | $40.28 | $65,649 | $5,471 |
| Median (50th) | $117,990 | $56.73 | $88,683 | $7,390 |
| 75th percentile | $139,860 | $67.24 | $103,051 | $8,588 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,810 | $82.12 | $123,277 | $10,273 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $117,990 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $88,683 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,773 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 New Orleans, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $117,990 | $88,683 | $95,773 |
*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
- Baton Rouge, LA — $135,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in New Orleans, LA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $117,990 a year, or about $56.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,790 and $139,860.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $117,990 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $88,683 a year ($7,390 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,153 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,773 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #9 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Industrial Engineer — $127,340
- Engineers, All Other — $110,970
- Civil Engineer — $108,240