Mechanical Engineers pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $145,990 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Nashville earn between $80,410 and $130,420.
- $53K10th
- $80K25th
- $99KMedian
- $130K75th
- $146K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,820 | $8,568 | $49.43 |
| Median | $99,440 | $8,287 | $47.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,410 | $6,701 | $38.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,420 | $10,868 | $62.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Nashville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($104,790) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $102,820 | $99,440 | $52,670 | $145,990 | 990 |
| Tennessee | $104,790 | $99,550 | $64,150 | $156,150 | 3,930 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $102,820, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $81,164 a year, or $6,764 a month and $3,122 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $102,820 buys what about $106,728 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 5th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($111,520).
- Chattanooga$111,520
- Jackson$111,450
- Memphis$106,490
- Kingsport$106,330
- Nashville$102,820
- Knoxville$102,210
- Johnson City$100,020
- Morristown$93,230
- Clarksville$92,040
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 Nashville: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Nashville?
$49.43 an hour on average, and $47.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Nashville?
About $81,164 a year ($6,764 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,820. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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