Mechanical Engineers salary in Washington, DC

Median pay for mechanical engineers in Washington, DC: $116,470/yr

Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $79,920 – $177,610 · about 4,290 employed locally

Above the typical metro median ($95,605) by +$20,865 (+22%).

What it's really worth in Washington

With Washington's cost of living at 110 (US=100), that $116,470 has the buying power of about $106,324 in an average-cost US metro.

Local context: median household income $119,803 · median home $583,013 · median rent $2,416/mo.

Full Washington cost of living & taxes →

How Washington ranks for this job

On raw pay, Washington, DC is 13th of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Washington's cost of living is applied, it ranks 39th.

The headline number flatters Washington. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, mechanical engineers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.

What that salary buys in Washington

A median home in Washington, DC costs $583,013 — about 5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.

Median rent of $2,416/mo works out at 25% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.

Where mechanical engineers earn more

Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Washington.

Metro	Median pay	vs Washington	Rent vs Washington
San Jose, CA	$153,520	+32%	1.5×
San Francisco, CA	$136,970	+18%	1.3×
Albuquerque, NM	$133,660	+15%	0.6×
Tyler, TX	$130,720	+12%	0.6×

Who hires mechanical engineers around Washington

Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.

• Northrop Grumman · Aerospace/Defense

Other jobs in Washington