Mechanical Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Mechanical Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $126,590 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,790 take-home, or $8,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,849
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,836
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$97,790
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,730 | $39.29 | $66,327 | $5,527 |
| 25th percentile | $98,940 | $47.57 | $78,434 | $6,536 |
| Median (50th) | $126,590 | $60.86 | $97,790 | $8,149 |
| 75th percentile | $155,290 | $74.66 | $117,407 | $9,784 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,490 | $82.93 | $129,163 | $10,764 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,590 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $97,790 take-home pay has the buying power of $87,994 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $126,590 | $97,790 | $87,994 |
*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 Washington
- Kennewick, WA — $124,780
- Bremerton, WA — $109,550
- Spokane, WA — $98,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Seattle, WA?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $126,590 a year, or about $60.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,940 and $155,290.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $126,590 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $97,790 a year ($8,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $87,994 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #20 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $169,120
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,580
- Materials Engineer — $156,130
- Electrical Engineer — $140,210
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $138,890
- Engineers, All Other — $137,430
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Environmental Engineer — $128,410
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician — $125,160
- Civil Engineer — $116,480
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $98,180