Mechanical Engineers pay range in St. Cloud
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,670 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in St. Cloud earn between $78,430 and $110,300.
- $70K10th
- $78K25th
- $91KMedian
- $110K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,000 | $7,917 | $45.67 |
| Median | $90,670 | $7,556 | $43.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,430 | $6,536 | $37.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $110,300 | $9,192 | $53.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in St. Cloud vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in St. Cloud earn 10% less than the Minnesota average ($106,060) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | $95,000 | $90,670 | $70,470 | $131,670 | 120 |
| Minnesota | $106,060 | $99,140 | $75,870 | $151,580 | 5,890 |
| 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 St. Cloud
On the average salary of $95,000, a single filer in St. Cloud takes home about $70,726 a year, or $5,894 a month and $2,720 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is St. Cloud a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Cloud area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.6), so the average $95,000 buys what about $108,408 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Cloud ($50,840). A typical home costs $318,864, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Minnesota cities
St. Cloud ranks 5th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($109,320).
- Minneapolis$109,320
- Mankato$104,630
- Rochester$104,400
- Duluth$95,160
- St. Cloud$95,000
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 St. Cloud: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in St. Cloud?
$45.68 an hour on average, and $43.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in St. Cloud?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in St. Cloud?
About $70,726 a year ($5,894 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,000. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in St. Cloud than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 St. Cloud, MN (41060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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