SOC 17-2141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mechanical Engineers — Asheville
Asheville, NC · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Asheville, NC is $108,630 per year, close to the national median of $104,110 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Asheville, NC is $108,630 per year, close to the national median of $104,110 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $77,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $217,230 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $92,340 to $129,260.
Employment stands at 330, or 1.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Greensboro leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $109,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 37th of 425 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,510 | −25.5% |
| 25th | $92,340 | −11.3% |
| Median (50th) | $108,630 | +4.3% |
| 75th | $129,260 | +24.2% |
| 90th | $217,230 | +108.7% |
| Mean | $121,630 | +16.8% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro | $109,540 | 1,260 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $108,340 | 120 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $101,950 | 2,470 | |
| 4 | Goldsboro | $101,800 | 30 | |
| 5 | Durham | $101,650 | 620 | |
| 6 | Wilmington | $101,100 | 190 | |
| 7 | Raleigh | $100,000 | 1,810 | |
| 8 | Jacksonville | $99,780 | 50 | |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $99,700 | 70 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $98,040 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Asheville run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $108,630 goes as far as $115,196 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$108,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$115,196US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $108,630 a year, 4.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $77,510 to $217,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 330 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Greensboro, at $109,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mechanical Engineers in Asheville, NC?
The median annual wage is $108,630, or $52.23 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $104,110, so pay in Asheville, NC is 4.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Asheville, NC earns more than $217,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $77,510 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Greensboro, at $109,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 330 jobs in this occupation in Asheville, NC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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