What does a Mechanical Engineers salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Mechanical Engineers earning $108,490 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $99,168 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $76,000 | $69,469 | $-6,530 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $86,060 | $78,665 | $-7,394 |
| Median (P50) | $108,490 | $99,168 | $-9,321 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $132,740 | $121,334 | $-11,405 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $165,120 | $150,932 | $-14,187 |
While $108,490 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $99,168. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Mechanical Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #26 out of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Mechanical Engineers take-home pay in Massachusetts after taxes →
A Mechanical Engineers in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $108,490 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $99,168 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Mechanical Engineers in Massachusetts: $108,490 x (100 / 109.4) = $99,168. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Mechanical Engineers's nominal salary of $108,490 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $99,168. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.