Mechanical Engineer Salary in St. Louis, MO
Mechanical Engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $100,340 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,641 take-home, or $6,303 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,245
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,221
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,455
- Missouri income tax$3,779
- Take-home pay$75,641
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,900 | $31.68 | $52,971 | $4,414 |
| 25th percentile | $79,740 | $38.34 | $62,117 | $5,176 |
| Median (50th) | $100,340 | $48.24 | $75,641 | $6,303 |
| 75th percentile | $120,020 | $57.70 | $88,560 | $7,380 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,060 | $71.66 | $107,080 | $8,923 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,340 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $75,641 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,548 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #67 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 |
| 67 | St. Louis, MO | $100,340 | $75,641 | $79,548 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $99,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in St. Louis, MO?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $100,340 a year, or about $48.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,740 and $120,020.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $100,340 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $75,641 a year ($6,303 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,779 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,548 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #67 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 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 St. Louis, MO
- Electrical Engineer — $123,960
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $112,490
- Engineers, All Other — $103,880
- Industrial Engineer — $102,230
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $98,800
- Civil Engineer — $96,830
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $71,900
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $67,850
- Surveyor — $65,560
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $62,930
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $62,430