How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in Tennessee?

BLS puts the average Mechanical Engineer pay in Tennessee at $104,790 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in Tennessee, after federal taxes, FICA, and Tennessee state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $82,550 annually ($6,879/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Mechanical Engineer in Tennessee?

On a $104,790 salary in Tennessee, your take-home pay is approximately $82,550/year or $6,879/month. Federal tax: $14,224. State tax: $0. FICA: $8,016.

Is $104,790 a good Mechanical Engineer salary?

$104,790 is the BLS average Mechanical Engineer pay in Tennessee, 8% below the US average of $113,610 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in Tennessee earn between $78,730 and $127,500.

How do Tennessee taxes affect Mechanical Engineer salaries?

Tennessee levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $104,790 is $0. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 21.2%.

What are the career growth prospects for Mechanical Engineers?

In Tennessee, the top 10% earn over $156,150 and the bottom 10% under $64,150 (BLS, May 2025). 10% growth through 2032 (faster than average); EV/aerospace/defense subspecialties growing faster, manufacturing slower. Related roles include: Aerospace Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Design Engineer, Thermal Engineer, Test Engineer, Project Engineer, Principal Mechanical Engineer, PE Mechanical.

How can a Mechanical Engineer in Tennessee reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Engineering

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Tennessee (2026)

Average Mechanical Engineer pay in Tennessee

$104,790/year

≈ $50/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $78,730–$127,500

US average: $113,610

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$82,550/year

$6,879/month · effective tax rate 21.22%

Federal $14,224
FICA $8,016
Take-home

Pay by role in Tennessee

Senior / Principal ME (any industry)BLS · 75th–90th percentile$127,500–$156,150
Mechanical Engineer (any industry)BLS · middle 50%$78,730–$127,500
EIT / Entry-Level MEBLS · 10th–25th percentile$64,150–$78,730
Engineering ManagerBLS · middle 50%$130,170–$193,380

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$82,550
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$6,879
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$3,175
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$40/hr
Federal Tax	$14,224
State Tax	$0
FICA Taxes	$8,016
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	21.22%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Mechanical Engineers earn the same — not even close

Tennessee's mechanical engineering market is anchored by the substantial auto manufacturing cluster (Nissan North America Smyrna, the largest auto plant in North America by capacity at ~7K employees, GM Spring Hill Manufacturing, Volkswagen Chattanooga, Mercedes-Benz Vans Cleveland TN-adjacent), Bridgestone Americas Nashville HQ (Fortune 500 tire + diversified manufacturing), Eastman Chemical Company Kingsport (Fortune 500 specialty chemicals), Oak Ridge National Laboratory cleared mechanical engineering, plus the Vanderbilt + UT Knoxville academic ME research.

Senior / Principal ME (any industry)

$127,500–$156,150

Nissan senior · Bridgestone senior · Eastman senior · ORNL senior research · cleared specialty

Source: BLS May 2025 · Mechanical Engineers · Tennessee · 75th–90th percentile

Mechanical Engineer (any industry)

$78,730–$127,500

PE-licensed · post-Vanderbilt + UT Knoxville + Tennessee Tech + UTC · transitioning to senior band

Source: BLS May 2025 · Mechanical Engineers · Tennessee · middle 50%

EIT / Entry-Level ME

$64,150–$78,730

Pre-PE band · Vanderbilt + UT Knoxville + Tennessee Tech + UTC new grads · entry band

Source: BLS May 2025 · Mechanical Engineers · Tennessee · 10th–25th percentile

Engineering Manager

$130,170–$193,380

Construction mechanical PM · Nissan plant expansion · HCA capital · senior project lead

Source: BLS May 2025 · Architectural and Engineering Managers · Tennessee · middle 50%

Worth knowing: Nissan North America Smyrna is the structural depth feature most national mechanical engineering surveys understate for TN. Nissan Smyrna (~7K employees, ~640K vehicles produced annually — the largest auto plant in North America by capacity) anchors a substantial automotive manufacturing engineering cluster including Nissan's Technical Center North America (Farmington Hills MI-adjacent Tennessee facilities) plus parallel GM Spring Hill (~3.5K employees, EV production), Volkswagen Chattanooga (Atlas + ID.4 production, ~4K employees), and Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston SC-adjacent. Senior automotive manufacturing mechanical engineers clear $135-215K TC. Eastman Chemical Company Kingsport (Fortune 500, ~14K global employees, ~$10B revenue, specialty chemicals + plastics + fibers) operates substantial chemical process + polymer mechanical engineering. Bridgestone Americas Nashville HQ (Fortune 500 tire + diversified manufacturing, ~50K global employees) drives parallel tire + polymer mechanical engineering. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DOE-funded, ~6K employees) drives cleared mechanical engineering at federal research scales — Y-12 National Security Complex (Oak Ridge nuclear weapons facility) operates substantial cleared mechanical engineering at NRC + DOE clearance scales. TN's 0% state income tax (Article II §28) means $200K senior ME keeps ~$10K more annually than peer-state IN or MO equivalents. Vanderbilt + UT Knoxville + Tennessee Tech ME programs feed substantial TN automotive + chemical pipeline.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and no state income tax (Tennessee levies none). Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers