Mechanical Engineers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,020 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Wilmington earn between $81,270 and $126,610.
- $73K10th
- $81K25th
- $101KMedian
- $127K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,790 | $9,149 | $52.78 |
| Median | $101,100 | $8,425 | $48.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,270 | $6,772 | $39.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,610 | $10,551 | $60.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($107,350) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $109,790 | $101,100 | $72,510 | $164,020 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $107,350 | $100,720 | $71,260 | $155,550 | 9,560 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $109,790, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $82,195 a year, or $6,850 a month and $3,161 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $109,790 buys what about $113,864 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 5th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($121,630).
- Asheville$121,630
- Durham$111,540
- Greensboro$110,500
- Charlotte$110,110
- Wilmington$109,790
- Fayetteville$107,330
- Greenville$106,690
- Raleigh$104,950
- Jacksonville$101,750
- Rocky Mount$99,350
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Wilmington?
$52.78 an hour on average, and $48.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $82,195 a year ($6,850 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,790.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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