Average Mechanical Engineer Salary in Wichita, KS

The average Mechanical Engineer in Wichita, KS earns $90,850 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$90,850
Median Salary
$82,430
vs. National
13.7% below

What Mechanical Engineers actually earn in Wichita

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $61,830
25th $73,910
Median $82,430
75th $105,310
90th (top) $132,070

670 Mechanical Engineers employed in the Wichita metro.

Am I underpaid? Check your exact percentile →

Can a Mechanical Engineer afford a home in Wichita?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Wichita home: $179,500.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$61,830$248,420Yes
Median$82,430$331,187Yes
Top (90th)$132,070$530,630Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Mechanical Engineer in Wichita

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and KS state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Wichita at a glance

Population396,488
Median household income$63,072
Median home value$179,500
Median rent$960/mo
Bachelor’s degree or higher19.7%
Poverty rate15.6%

In Wichita, KS, Mechanical Engineers earn a median of $82,430 a year - about 22% below the U.S. median of $105,220. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #48.

What that pay is worth in Wichita

Local prices run 89 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $90,850 salary stretches further than the sticker number - about $102,141 in national-average buying power.

Can Mechanical Engineers afford a home in Wichita?

A typical Wichita home runs about $179,500 - 2.0 times the average Mechanical Engineer salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $960/mo takes roughly 13% of gross pay - within the 30% comfort line.

The Mechanical Engineer pay ladder in Wichita

Entry-level (10th percentile) Mechanical Engineers earn about $61,830; the top 10% reach $132,070 - a $70,240 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Mechanical Engineer job market in Wichita

Wichita employs roughly 670 Mechanical Engineers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Wichita with other cities

See the full Mechanical Engineer salary by city ranking to weigh Wichita against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Mechanical Engineers make in Wichita?

The average Mechanical Engineer in Wichita, KS earns about $90,850 per year, 13.7% below the national average of $105,220.

What is the take-home pay for Mechanical Engineers in Wichita after taxes?

After federal and KS taxes, this $90,850 salary is worth about $67,962 a year - roughly $5,663 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 25%.

What do the highest-paid Mechanical Engineers earn in Wichita?

The top 10% of Mechanical Engineers in Wichita earn about $132,070 a year, versus about $61,830 for the bottom 10%.

Can Mechanical Engineers afford a home in Wichita?

A typical Wichita home runs about $179,500 - roughly 2.0x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

Put your money to work

What it costs to live in Wichita

Wichita's cost of living is 11% below the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $112,428 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Full Wichita cost-of-living breakdown →