Mechanical Engineering Degree in Fort Worth, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Fort Worth, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$111K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Fort Worth
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Fort Worth, TX Overview
Fort Worth, Texas (pop. 918,915) has 19 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 101 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,344/month. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Fort Worth is approximately $78,780.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
19
Public Tuition
$10,870/yr
Private Tuition
$43,547/yr
Room & Board
$10,247/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,933/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
68%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Fort Worth (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Worth's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Fort Worth adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Fort Worth
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Fort Worth tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,870 | Private avg: $43,547
Fort Worth avg aid: $7,933/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,468
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$43,430
vs HS diploma in Fort Worth
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Worth
$875,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($959,500) minus total education cost ($84,468)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Fort Worth
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Worth for Mechanical Engineering
Texas Christian University
private
$54,620/yr
$218,480 total
Texas Wesleyan University
private
$32,474/yr
$129,896 total
University of Texas at Arlington
public
$10,870/yr
$43,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tarrant County College
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Fort Worth
Fort Worth offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Worth Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$90K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$94K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$81K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$83K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
El Paso, TX
$73K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$73K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$64K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$66K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Fort Worth
Petroleum Engineering
$51K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Fort Worth — 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 Fort Worth.