Mechanical Engineers salary in Rockford, IL
Median pay for mechanical engineers in Rockford, IL: $80,980/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $63,250 – $129,660 · about 620 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($95,605) by −$14,625 (-15%).
What it's really worth in Rockford
With Rockford's cost of living at 90 (US=100), that $80,980 has the buying power of about $89,812 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $63,834 · median home $221,368 · median rent $1,319/mo.
How Rockford ranks for this job
On raw pay, Rockford, IL is 160th of the 180 metros we hold mechanical engineers wages for. Once Rockford's cost of living is applied, it ranks 140th.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Rockford 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 Rockford
A median home in Rockford, IL costs $221,368 — about 2.7× 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 $1,319/mo works out at 20% 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 Rockford.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Rockford | Rent vs Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,520 | +90% | 2.7× |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,970 | +69% | 2.5× |
| Albuquerque, NM | $133,660 | +65% | 1.1× |
| Tyler, TX | $130,720 | +61% | 1.1× |
Same job elsewhere in IL
| Metro | Median pay | vs Rockford | Rent vs Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $110,080 | +36% | 0.9× |
| Chicago, IL | $100,200 | +24% | 1.7× |
Staying in IL keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires mechanical engineers around Rockford
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles · Manufacturing
- Haldex Hydraulics Corporation · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Rockford
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.