Phoenix mechanical engineer salary: rankings and context
After a simplified 13% national tax estimate that is about US$7,300 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
How Phoenix compares with United States and AZ
San Jose leads at US$168,030, 66% above Phoenix, while Jacksonville sits at US$99,500. The neighbours in the ranking are Atlanta and Raleigh.
With Phoenix as the sole AZ entry for mechanical engineers, the useful benchmarks are national: 18th of 21, -3% vs the median.
What the Phoenix median is worth after tax and rent
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$101,000, is near its face value.
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 18th of 21 either way.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$7,300 monthly (13% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 23% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$3,800 in the black.
If you compared Phoenix with similarly priced cities
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$109,990 (+9% vs Phoenix), and the modeled budget leaves US$580 more each month.
A mechanical engineer moving from Phoenix to Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 23% to US$123,900, with US$1,480 more left over monthly in our model.
A mechanical engineer moving from Phoenix to Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 1% to US$102,070, with US$70 more left over monthly in our model.
Other Phoenix jobs compared with mechanical engineer
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in Phoenix at US$135,670; mechanical engineer comes 4th of 9.
Closest neighbours in the Phoenix list: Data Scientist at US$114,540 (+13%) and Registered Nurse at US$100,830 (0%).
Entry-level vs senior mechanical engineer pay in Phoenix
Phoenix is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$69,980) ranks 16th of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$159,920) ranks 17th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$217,530 at the 90th percentile, +36% against Phoenix.
Spread between low and high mechanical engineer pay in Phoenix
Expect wide variation between offers: the 10th percentile is US$69,980 and the 90th US$159,920, a 2.3× ratio.