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Mechanical Engineers salary in Winston-Salem, NC

Mechanical Engineers in the Winston-Salem, NC metropolitan area earn a median of $95,600 a year, an average of $98,680. About 480 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Mechanical Engineers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$95,600
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$98,680
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$62,560
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$137,370
Top of the range
People employed
480
In Winston-Salem metro area
Rent share of median wage
13.0%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Winston-Salem

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,033
per month, in Winston-Salem, NC
Income needed for median rent
$41,300
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median mechanical engineers wage
$95,600
131.5% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
13.0%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$57,673
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Winston-Salem area. Read the Winston-Salem, NC cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Mechanical Engineers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Median $100,280
Mean $102,540
Employed 2,210
Median $100,290
Mean $109,050
Employed 1,220
Lubbock, TX
-4.7%
Median $91,110
Mean $98,010
Employed 130
Median $91,340
Mean $94,900
Employed 480
Median $95,310
Mean $99,110
Employed 560
Arlington, VA
+32.8%
Median $126,990
Mean $133,380
Employed 5,390
Norfolk, VA
+4.9%
Median $100,280
Mean $102,540
Employed 2,210
Toledo, OH
same
Median $95,170
Mean $107,540
Employed 620

See mechanical engineers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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$
Gross annual income $95,600 / year
$95,600
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax North Carolina (NC)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
—
Take-home per paycheck Monthly
—
Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Mechanical Engineers salary in Winston-Salem, NC: FAQ

How much do mechanical engineers make in Winston-Salem, NC?

The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $95,600 a year (about $46 an hour for full-time work). The average is $98,680, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $95,600 a good salary for mechanical engineers in Winston-Salem, NC?

Yes. It is above the $41,300 needed to keep the median rent of $1,033 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 13.0% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid mechanical engineers earn in Winston-Salem, NC?

The top 10% earn more than $137,370 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $62,560.

How many mechanical engineers work in Winston-Salem, NC?

About 480 people work in this occupation in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.