Mechanical Engineers salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Median pay for mechanical engineers in Pittsburgh, PA: $98,970/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $64,370 – $170,240 · about 4,590 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($95,605) by +$3,365 (+4%).
What it's really worth in Pittsburgh
With Pittsburgh's cost of living at 95 (US=100), that $98,970 has the buying power of about $104,502 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $71,283 · median home $231,356 · median rent $1,527/mo.
How Pittsburgh ranks for this job
On raw pay, Pittsburgh, PA is 67th of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Pittsburgh's cost of living is applied, it ranks 48th.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Pittsburgh is one of the places where mechanical engineers gain ground in real terms, because local costs are low relative to what the job pays.
What that salary buys in Pittsburgh
A median home in Pittsburgh, PA costs $231,356 — about 2.3× 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 $1,527/mo works out at 19% 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 Pittsburgh.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Pittsburgh | Rent vs Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +55% | 2.4× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +38% | 2.1× |
| Albuquerque, NM | $133,660 | +35% | 1× |
| Tyler, TX | $130,720 | +32% | 0.9× |
Same job elsewhere in PA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Pittsburgh | Rent vs Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $104,520 | +6% | 1.3× |
| Allentown, PA | $101,430 | +2% | 1.2× |
| Erie, PA | $96,650 | −2% | 0.7× |
| Harrisburg, PA | $94,900 | −4% | 1× |
Staying in PA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires mechanical engineers around Pittsburgh
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Alcoa · Manufacturing
- U.S. Steel · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Pittsburgh
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.