Mechanical Engineering Degree in Dayton, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Dayton, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$81K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$114K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2 yrs
in Dayton
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Dayton, OH Overview
Dayton, Ohio (pop. 137,644) has 9 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $865/month. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Dayton is approximately $81,120.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,740/yr
Private Tuition
$46,490/yr
Room & Board
$12,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,990/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
50%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Dayton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Dayton's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Dayton adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Dayton
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Dayton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,740 | Private avg: $46,490
Dayton avg aid: $7,990/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,516
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$44,720
vs HS diploma in Dayton
ROI Payback Period
2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Dayton
$898,484
Lifetime earnings premium ($988,000) minus total education cost ($89,516)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Dayton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Dayton for Mechanical Engineering
University of Dayton
private
$46,490/yr
$185,960 total
Wright State University
public
$9,740/yr
$38,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sinclair Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Dayton
Dayton offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Dayton Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$80K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$75K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$80K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$84K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$82K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Parma, OH
$70K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$66K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$66K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Dayton
Petroleum Engineering
$52K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$83K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Dayton — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Mechanical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Dayton.