Mechanical Engineer salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Mechanical Engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $101,950 a year ($49.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,120 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $100,720. There are 1.8 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $110,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,530 | $35.83 |
| 25th percentile | $85,180 | $40.95 |
| Median | $101,950 | $49.02 |
| 75th percentile | $126,180 | $60.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,120 | $75.54 |
| Average (mean) | $110,110 | $52.94 |
Half of mechanical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,495.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,247.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,921.15 |
| Weekly | $1,960.58 |
| Hourly | $49.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $128,740 | 980 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $120,070 | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $110,820 | 940 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $109,540 | 1,260 |
| Asheville, NC | $108,630 | 330 |
| Greenville, NC | $108,340 | 120 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $104,990 | 520 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $104,150 | 40 |
| Florence, SC | $103,800 | 130 |
| Columbia, SC | $102,280 | 450 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $101,800 | 30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $101,650 | 620 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $101,570 | 1,800 |
| Wilmington, NC | $101,100 | 190 |
| Sumter, SC | $101,010 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,280 | 2,210 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $100,000 | 1,810 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $99,780 | 50 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $99,700 | 70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $98,040 | 130 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $96,180 | 30 |
| Burlington, NC | $95,870 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $95,600 | 480 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $89,960 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $102,370 | $49.22 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,090 | $49.08 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,360 | $49.69 |
| Engineers, All Other | $118,230 | $56.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $107,630 | $51.74 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $131,850 | $63.39 |
| Materials Engineer | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Chemical Engineer | $115,890 | $55.72 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $132,830 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $97,670 | $46.96 |
| Environmental Engineer | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $113,130 | $54.39 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $101,950 a year, or $49.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $157,120 a year. The top 25% earn $126,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,530 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $85,180 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 2,470 mechanical engineers are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.