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What does a Mechanical Engineers salary really buy you in Ohio?
Ohio is 8.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Ohio's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.5, meaning prices are 8.5% lower the national average. A Mechanical Engineers earning $99,100 in Ohio has the equivalent purchasing power of $108,306 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $69,160 | $75,584 | +$6,424 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $79,390 | $86,765 | +$7,375 |
| Median (P50) | $99,100 | $108,306 | +$9,206 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $115,770 | $126,524 | +$10,754 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $138,020 | $150,841 | +$12,821 |
A Mechanical Engineers in Ohio earns $99,100 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $108,306 in an average-cost state. This makes Ohio one of the best value states for this occupation.
Ohio's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.5 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.5% less than the national average. For a Mechanical Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Ohio's RPP, the $99,100 median salary translates to $108,306 in real terms — a 9.3% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Mechanical Engineers.
Ohio sits at #25 of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Mechanical Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Ohio ranks #25 out of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Mechanical Engineers take-home pay in Ohio after taxes →
A Mechanical Engineers in Ohio earns a median salary of $99,100 per year. After adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (RPP=91.5), the real purchasing power is $108,306 — a +9.3% difference.
Ohio's cost of living is 8.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Ohio is 91.5 (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 Ohio: $99,100 x (100 / 91.5) = $108,306. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Mechanical Engineers in Ohio enjoys 9.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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