Mechanical Engineer Salary in Portland, OR
Mechanical Engineers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $105,020 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,352 take-home, or $6,196 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,274
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,511
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,523
- Oregon income tax$8,360
- Take-home pay$74,352
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,210 | $37.60 | $57,837 | $4,820 |
| 25th percentile | $95,630 | $45.98 | $68,568 | $5,714 |
| Median (50th) | $105,020 | $50.49 | $74,352 | $6,196 |
| 75th percentile | $130,680 | $62.83 | $89,949 | $7,496 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,040 | $79.35 | $110,032 | $9,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,020 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $74,352 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,529 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 about as common in Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #25 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | $108,687 | $94,009 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $128,180 | $93,946 | $88,810 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $97,790 | $87,994 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,220 | $80,065 | $83,952 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $126,990 | $90,238 | $82,875 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $116,700 | $85,723 | $82,042 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $105,020 | $74,352 | $70,529 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Portland, OR?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $105,020 a year, or about $50.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,630 and $130,680.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $105,020 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $74,352 a year ($6,196 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,360 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,529 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #25 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Industrial Engineer — $129,890
- Civil Engineer — $106,280