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Mechanical Engineer Salary in Georgia

Georgia pays mechanical engineers a mean of $101,200 per year, 28th in the nation, but COL-adjusted purchasing power in Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah outpaces most coastal states. The state employs 5,100 mechanical engineers, concentrated in logistics, federal nuclear, and aerospace.

Data as of May 2026, sourced from BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 17-2141).

GA Mean Wage

$101,200

vs national $101,560 (-0.4%)

GA Employment

5,100

73% in Atlanta metro

COL-Adjusted

$106,526

GA COL 95 vs national 100

Three economies, one state

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for SOC 17-2141, May 2024 release, report a Georgia annual mean wage of $101,200 for 5,100 employed engineers. The state sits just below the national mean of $101,560 but produces higher COL-adjusted purchasing power than every coastal state with a higher headline number.

Georgia's ME labor market splits cleanly into three sub-economies. Atlanta is logistics, packaging, and corporate engineering, anchored by UPS, Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and the Southeastern Conference of tech-adjacent product companies. Augusta is federal nuclear and defense, anchored by the Savannah River Site (Department of Energy), Plant Vogtle (the only operating new-build US nuclear plant), and Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon). Savannah is aerospace and ports, anchored by Gulfstream (the largest single-site ME employer in the state) and the Port of Savannah container terminal.

Metro-by-metro pay

Metro	Mean Wage	MEs Employed	Driver Employers
Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta	$105,800	3,700	UPS, Delta Air Lines mechanical engineering, Coca-Cola packaging, Home Depot product engineering, plus a logistics-tech startup base.
Augusta	$108,400	480	Savannah River Site (DOE), Fort Eisenhower, Plant Vogtle nuclear. Highest mean in the state thanks to federal premium.
Savannah	$96,200	520	Gulfstream Aerospace (largest single-site ME employer in the state), JCB North American HQ, Port of Savannah cargo handling.
Athens, Clarke County	$92,800	220	Caterpillar Athens manufacturing, plus University of Georgia research.
Columbus	$90,400	180	Pratt and Whitney Columbus engine assembly, Aflac corporate operations, and Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) civilian engineering.

The cost-of-living math, honestly

Georgia's housing costs sit below the national average outside of Atlanta's intown neighborhoods. Using Regional Price Parities published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state runs around 95 (where 100 is the national average), with Atlanta near 99 and the smaller metros from 88 to 94.

Metro	Nominal Pay	COL Index	Adjusted
Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta	$105,800	99	$106,869
Augusta	$108,400	88	$123,182
Savannah	$96,200	94	$102,340
Athens	$92,800	91	$101,978
Georgia state average	$101,200	95	$106,526

Augusta's $108,400 nominal at COL 88 produces $123,182 in adjusted purchasing power, which beats San Jose, Boston, and NYC after the COL math. Atlanta at $105,800 with COL 99 adjusts to $106,869. The practical takeaway: for engineers willing to live outside Atlanta's intown core, Georgia offers some of the strongest real purchasing power for ME pay in the US.

PE licensing in Georgia

The Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors administers PE licensure under Georgia Code Title 43 Chapter 15. The path is ABET-accredited BS, FE exam, four years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE, then the PE exam. Georgia's application fee is $100, biennial renewal is $80, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375. PE licensure adds $10,000 to $18,000 in the Atlanta consulting market (AECOM, Stantec, HDR) and the Georgia Department of Transportation. In Gulfstream, UPS, and Home Depot product engineering, PE licensure adds no compensation premium because the work product is not signed under the engineer's seal.

Frequently asked questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in Georgia?+

Georgia mechanical engineers earn a mean of $101,200 per year and a median hourly wage of $48.65, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2024. The state employs 5,100 mechanical engineers, with Atlanta accounting for roughly 3,700 of those.

Which Georgia metro pays mechanical engineers the most?+

Augusta, surprisingly, leads at a mean of $108,400 for 480 employed engineers. The premium reflects the concentration of federal nuclear (Savannah River Site, Plant Vogtle reactors 3 and 4), Department of Defense (Fort Eisenhower), and Department of Energy engineering work. Atlanta follows at $105,800 for 3,700 engineers, with the larger absolute headcount but lower premium.

Is Georgia mechanical engineering pay worth it after cost of living?+

Yes, in most metros. Augusta's $108,400 mean adjusted for the metro's COL index of 88 lands at roughly $123,182 in national-equivalent purchasing power, the highest adjusted figure in the state. Atlanta at COL 99 adjusts to $106,869. Georgia is one of the few states where the nominal ME salary, while below California or Massachusetts, produces higher real purchasing power after housing costs.

Where in Georgia are mechanical engineering jobs concentrated?+

Roughly 5,100 mechanical engineers work in Georgia. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta dominates at 3,700, followed by Savannah at 520 (anchored by Gulfstream Aerospace), Augusta at 480 (federal nuclear and defense), Athens at 220 (Caterpillar plus UGA), and Columbus at 180 (Pratt and Whitney engine assembly).

Do mechanical engineers need a PE license to work in Georgia?+

Most product engineering, hardware, and research roles do not require a PE license. The license is mandatory for engineers who sign off on building HVAC, structural mechanical, or public infrastructure designs under Georgia Code Title 43 Chapter 15. The Georgia Professional Licensing Boards Division administers licensing. The Georgia application fee is $100, biennial renewal is $80, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375.

What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in Georgia?+

Entry-level mechanical engineers in Georgia (0 to 2 years experience) typically earn $60,000 to $74,000. Atlanta new-grad offers cluster around $68,000 to $78,000 base. Federal positions at Savannah River Site and the Department of Defense facilities start at GS-7 or GS-9 scale, which translates to roughly $55,000 to $68,000 base plus locality pay, and offer the federal benefits package that compensates for the lower starting cash.

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