Mechanical Engineer Salary: Seattle, WA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Mechanical Engineers in Seattle, WA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $126,590▲ | $109,990 | +$16,600 |
| 25th Percentile | $98,940▲ | $92,180 | +$6,760 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,290▲ | $137,060 | +$18,230 |
| 90th Percentile | $172,490▲ | $165,010 | +$7,480 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 111.1 | 112.6 | -1.5 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $113,909▲ | $97,714 | +$16,195 |
| Total Employment | 4,500 | 6,960 | -2,460 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $16,600 more (median: $126,590 vs $109,990). BEA's regional price parity is 111.1 in Seattle, WA and 112.6 in New York, NY (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $113,909 and $97,714, so Seattle, WA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $16,600 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $113,909 for Seattle and $97,714 for New York, a difference of $16,195.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 4,500 Mechanical Engineer jobs in the Seattle area and 6,960 in the New York area. For broader context, see our Washington overview and the full Mechanical Engineer city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mechanical Engineer salary higher in Seattle, WA or New York, NY?
Seattle, WA has the higher median wage for Mechanical Engineers ($126,590 per year, against $109,990 in New York, NY; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $113,909 in Seattle, WA and $97,714 in New York, NY.
How do prices compare between Seattle, WA and New York, NY?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 111.1 for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area and 112.6 for the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 11.1% above the national level for Seattle, WA and 12.6% above the national level for New York, NY.
Which city pays Mechanical Engineers more once local prices are counted?
Seattle, WA: at national-average prices its median Mechanical Engineer wage is $113,909, against $97,714 for New York, NY. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.