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2026 Salary Data — Cleveland, OH
Updated April 28, 2026

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Cleveland: $92K Median

Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland, OH earn between $60K and $141K per year.

That's -8% below the US national median of $99,510 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH is $91,549 per year — -8% below the US national median of $99,510. Salaries range from $59,800 (entry, 25th percentile) to $140,760 (90th percentile). Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland earned approximately $16,061 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$91,549
+470.0% YoY · $7,629/mo
Entry
$64,400
0–2 years
Experienced
$119,600
5+ years
Top 10%
$140,760
Senior/lead
Mechanical Engineer Salary — Cleveland vs Nearby
Cleveland
$92K
Columbus
$97K
-5% vs Cleveland
Oklahoma City
$88K
+5% vs Cleveland
Louisville
$91K
+1% vs Cleveland

Free ATS scan · Cleveland employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland

Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Core Responsibilities

  • CAD design (SolidWorks, AutoCAD)
  • Prototype development
  • Failure analysis
  • Manufacturing support
  • Project management

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (ABET-accredited preferred)

In-demand certifications

PE (Professional Engineer)PMPSix SigmaSolidWorks Certified

Cleveland Job Market

Major medical hub anchored by Cleveland Clinic.

Population
372K
Cost of Living
88
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$175K

Top Industries in Cleveland

Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic)FinanceManufacturingTechEducation

Top Employers Hiring Mechanical Engineers

Major employers active in Cleveland or hiring remotely from this metro.

Boeing
Lockheed Martin
GE
Tesla
Ford
Caterpillar
Honeywell

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Mechanical Engineer listings.

EV designRoboticsAdditive manufacturingAI in CADSustainability engineering

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

SolidWorksAutoCADGD&TFEACFDCAD/CAMMATLABmanufacturingthermodynamics
Career Outlook
+11% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Mechanical engineering employment growing 11% through 2034. Strong demand in EV, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors.

Mechanical Engineer Salary Breakdown — Cleveland

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$59,800$91,549$140,760
Monthly$4,983$7,629$11,730
Weekly$1,150$1,761$2,707
Hourly$29$44$68

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($99,510) adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Mechanical Engineer Take-Home Pay in Cleveland

After federal, state, local, and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$68,125.271
Per month$5,677
Biweekly paycheck$2,620
Effective tax rate25.6%

Tax Breakdown on $91,549

Gross salary$91,549
Federal income tax−$11,842.78
Ohio state tax−$2,288.725
Cleveland local tax−$2,288.725
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,003.499
Take-home (net)$68,125.271

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Mechanical Engineer Salary by Experience — Cleveland

Career-stage progression for Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$59,248
2–3 yr$64,400
4–6 yr$92,000
7–10 yr$119,600
11–15 yr$141,128
15+ yr$130,180

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Cleveland's 0.92× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$16,061
2026 median:$91,549
Change:+$75,488

Engineering sector growth driven by demand for EV design and Robotics.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$104,033
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Mechanical Engineer Salary in Cleveland

Walk-away anchor: $81,740 (offers below this are below market for Cleveland).

Leverage Points

  • PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly
  • Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects
  • Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base
  • Software-adjacent skills (Python, MATLAB, simulation, MLOps) raise the ceiling

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

PE license exam fees, study materials, review coursesRelocation package and temporary housingProject-completion or milestone bonusesPer-diem for site travel and field workTuition reimbursement for MS/PhD

What To Say

"With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus."

Anchor on $120K–$141K for experienced roles, citing Cleveland market data and your specific EV design/Robotics expertise.

Mechanical Engineer Salary FAQ — Cleveland

What is the average Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH?
The average Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland is $91,549 per year as of April 2026 — $7,629/month, $1,761/week, or about $44/hour. Salaries range from $59,800 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $140,760 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×).
Is $91,549 a good Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Cleveland's cost-of-living index is 88 (vs 100 nationally), giving $91,549 a real purchasing power of approximately $104,033 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $91,549 in Cleveland?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Cleveland specifically (median home price $175,000), a $91,549 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $91,549 enough for a single person in Cleveland?
A single adult in Cleveland typically needs ~$39,600 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $91,549 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $91,549 enough for a couple in Cleveland?
A couple (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$63,360 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $91,549 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $91,549 each ($183,098 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $91,549 enough for a family of 4 in Cleveland?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$96,800 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $91,549 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Cleveland. Childcare costs in Cleveland typically run $13K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Mechanical Engineer in Cleveland?
On a $91,549 Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH, you take home approximately $68,125.271 per year ($5,677/month, $2,620 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $11,842.78, state $2,288.725, local $2,288.725, FICA $7,003.499. Effective tax rate: 25.6%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland earn compared to the US average?
Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland earn approximately 8% less than the US national median for this role ($99,510 nationally vs $91,549 in Cleveland). However, Cleveland's cost-of-living index of 88 means real purchasing power is approximately $104,033 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Mechanical Engineer earn in Cleveland?
Entry-level Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland typically start at around $64,400 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Mechanical Engineers earn $119,600 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $140,760+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Mechanical Engineer salaries in Cleveland increase in 2026?
Yes — Mechanical Engineer salaries in Cleveland grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $16,061 in 2025 to $91,549 in 2026 (+$75,488). This reflects the broader Engineering sector's compensation trend, driven by EV design and Robotics demand.
What's the job outlook for Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland?
Mechanical engineering employment growing 11% through 2034. Strong demand in EV, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors. Cleveland's top industries include Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic), Finance, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Mechanical Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Mechanical Engineers are: EV design, Robotics, Additive manufacturing, AI in CAD, Sustainability engineering. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Cleveland.
Who are the top employers hiring Mechanical Engineers in Cleveland?
Top employers hiring Mechanical Engineers in or near Cleveland include: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE, Tesla, Ford, Caterpillar. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland?
With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Key leverage points for Engineering negotiations: PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly; Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects; Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work.
How can I increase my Mechanical Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (EV design, Robotics, Additive manufacturing) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., PE (Professional Engineer) or PMP). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Mechanical Engineer in Cleveland?
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (ABET-accredited preferred) is the typical path. However, Cleveland's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Engineering roles.

Methodology & Sources

Mechanical Engineer salary figures for Cleveland are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($99,510) by Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.92× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Cleveland

Civil Engineer →Electrical Engineer →

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$93KJacksonville, FL$92KColumbus, OH$97KIndianapolis, IN$93KDetroit, MI$93KMemphis, TN$88KOklahoma City, OK$88KLas Vegas, NV$95K

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