Mechanical Engineers salary in Allentown, PA
Median pay for mechanical engineers in Allentown, PA: $101,430/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $64,890 – $172,800 · about 1,300 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($95,605) by +$5,825 (+6%).
What it's really worth in Allentown
With Allentown's cost of living at 99 (US=100), that $101,430 has the buying power of about $102,579 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $78,597 · median home $363,989 · median rent $1,857/mo.
How Allentown ranks for this job
On raw pay, Allentown, PA is 41st of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Allentown's cost of living is applied, it ranks 60th.
The headline number flatters Allentown. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, mechanical engineers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Allentown
A median home in Allentown, PA costs $363,989 — about 3.6× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,857/mo works out at 22% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where mechanical engineers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Allentown.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Allentown | Rent vs Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +51% | 2× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +35% | 1.8× |
| Albuquerque, NM | $133,660 | +32% | 0.8× |
| Tyler, TX | $130,720 | +29% | 0.7× |
Same job elsewhere in PA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Allentown | Rent vs Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $104,520 | +3% | 1× |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $98,970 | −2% | 0.8× |
| Erie, PA | $96,650 | −5% | 0.6× |
| Harrisburg, PA | $94,900 | −6% | 0.8× |
Staying in PA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires mechanical engineers around Allentown
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Air Products · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Allentown
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 180 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.