Mechanical Engineer salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Mechanical Engineers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $104,220 a year ($50.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,520 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 5% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $99,100. There are 3.0 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $109,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,290 | $36.68 |
| 25th percentile | $81,960 | $39.40 |
| Median | $104,220 | $50.11 |
| 75th percentile | $132,490 | $63.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Average (mean) | $109,900 | $52.84 |
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 | $8,685 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,342.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,008.46 |
| Weekly | $2,004.23 |
| Hourly | $50.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, IN | $127,700 | 1,000 |
| Kokomo, IN | $105,410 | 300 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $103,820 | 900 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $102,590 | 450 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,070 | 6,900 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $101,180 | 1,180 |
| Columbus, OH | $100,730 | 2,630 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,690 | 510 |
| Lima, OH | $99,290 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $99,290 | 1,320 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $99,090 | 130 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $98,680 | 2,140 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $97,950 | 720 |
| Akron, OH | $97,920 | 1,000 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $97,900 | 530 |
| Bloomington, IN | $97,830 | 90 |
| Owensboro, KY | $97,810 | 50 |
| Cleveland, OH | $97,220 | 2,300 |
| Sandusky, OH | $96,580 | 140 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $95,900 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $95,850 | 160 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $95,310 | 560 |
| Evansville, IN | $95,220 | 220 |
| Toledo, OH | $95,170 | 620 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $94,060 | 90 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,060 | 110 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $92,940 | 150 |
| Springfield, OH | $89,520 | 70 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $89,380 | 240 |
| Mansfield, OH | $88,770 | 80 |
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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $105,140 | $50.55 |
| Civil Engineer | $98,220 | $47.22 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,150 | $61.13 |
| Electrical Engineer | $105,350 | $50.65 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $107,020 | $51.45 |
| Materials Engineer | $127,740 | $61.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $107,610 | $51.74 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $129,560 | $62.29 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $131,170 | $63.06 |
| Environmental Engineer | $113,960 | $54.79 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $109,120 | $52.46 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,750 | $47.47 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $70,010 | $33.66 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $104,220 a year, or $50.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $168,520 a year. The top 25% earn $132,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,290 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $81,960 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 3,310 mechanical engineers are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.