Mechanical Engineers pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,160 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Bowling Green earn between $78,210 and $121,310.
- $59K10th
- $78K25th
- $99KMedian
- $121K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,520 | $8,293 | $47.85 |
| Median | $99,090 | $8,258 | $47.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,210 | $6,518 | $37.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,310 | $10,109 | $58.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Bowling Green earn 4% less than the Kentucky average ($103,320) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $99,520 | $99,090 | $59,490 | $136,160 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $103,320 | $101,050 | $65,370 | $139,810 | 4,170 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Bowling Green
On the average salary of $99,520, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $73,486 a year, or $6,124 a month and $2,826 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $99,520 buys what about $110,358 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 5th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($110,100).
- Elizabethtown$110,100
- Lexington$106,220
- Louisville$101,310
- Owensboro$99,870
- Bowling Green$99,520
- Paducah$99,440
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Bowling Green: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Bowling Green?
$47.85 an hour on average, and $47.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $73,486 a year ($6,124 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,520. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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