Mechanical Engineer salary in Wilmington, NC
Mechanical Engineers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $101,100 a year ($48.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,020 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $100,720. There are 0.99 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $109,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,510 | $34.86 |
| 25th percentile | $81,270 | $39.07 |
| Median | $101,100 | $48.61 |
| 75th percentile | $126,610 | $60.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,020 | $78.86 |
| Average (mean) | $109,790 | $52.78 |
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 | $8,425 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,212.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,888.46 |
| Weekly | $1,944.23 |
| Hourly | $48.61 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $109,540 | 1,260 |
| Asheville, NC | $108,630 | 330 |
| Greenville, NC | $108,340 | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,950 | 2,470 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $101,800 | 30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $101,650 | 620 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $94,450 | $45.41 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,540 | $47.86 |
| Electrical Engineer | $105,130 | $50.54 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $129,710 | $62.36 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $92,650 | $44.54 |
| Engineers, All Other | $115,210 | $55.39 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,660 | $32.05 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Surveyor | $72,160 | $34.69 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $61,590 | $29.61 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $93,720 | $45.06 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| Landscape Architect | $87,440 | $42.04 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $101,100 a year, or $48.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $164,020 a year. The top 25% earn $126,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,510 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $81,270 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 190 mechanical engineers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.