Mechanical Engineer Salary in Tampa, FL
Mechanical Engineers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $100,290 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,384 take-home, or $6,615 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,218
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,454
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,384
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,290 | $32.83 | $56,872 | $4,739 |
| 25th percentile | $85,340 | $41.03 | $68,867 | $5,739 |
| Median (50th) | $100,290 | $48.22 | $79,384 | $6,615 |
| 75th percentile | $127,330 | $61.22 | $98,296 | $8,191 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,050 | $76.47 | $119,977 | $9,998 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,290 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mechanical engineer's $79,384 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,684 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 Tampa, FL than nationally (location quotient 0.44), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #77 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 |
| 77 | Tampa, FL | $100,290 | $79,384 | $78,684 |
*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 Florida
- Palm Bay, FL — $102,630
- Orlando, FL — $103,380
- Jacksonville, FL — $99,500
- Miami, FL — $99,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Tampa, FL?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $100,290 a year, or about $48.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,340 and $127,330.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $100,290 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $79,384 a year ($6,615 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,684 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #77 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineer afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $125,680
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $104,690
- Electrical Engineer — $102,110
- Industrial Engineer — $100,670
- Civil Engineer — $100,570
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $94,610
- Engineers, All Other — $92,790
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $75,070
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $66,890
- Surveyor — $66,390
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $65,160
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $59,500