Mechanical Engineers pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,940 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Louisville earn between $76,370 and $119,580.
- $65K10th
- $76K25th
- $99KMedian
- $120K75th
- $150K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,310 | $8,442 | $48.71 |
| Median | $99,290 | $8,274 | $47.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,370 | $6,364 | $36.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,580 | $9,965 | $57.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Louisville earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($103,320) and 11% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $101,310 | $99,290 | $65,240 | $149,940 | 1,320 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $101,310, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $74,445 a year, or $6,204 a month and $2,863 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $77,092 | $6,424 |
| Working in KY | $74,445 | $6,204 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $101,310 buys what about $108,849 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 3rd 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 Louisville: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Louisville?
$48.71 an hour on average, and $47.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Louisville?
About $74,445 a year ($6,204 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,310. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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