Mechanical Engineering Degree in Jacksonville, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Jacksonville, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$91K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$129K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.3 yrs
in Jacksonville
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Jacksonville, FL Overview
Jacksonville is one of Florida's top college towns, with 35 institutions and a student population of 36,092. Public tuition averages $6,394/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Jacksonville is approximately $91,260.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
35
Public Tuition
$6,394/yr
Private Tuition
$26,965/yr
Room & Board
$10,215/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,539/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
71%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Jacksonville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jacksonville's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Jacksonville adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Jacksonville
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Jacksonville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,394 | Private avg: $26,965
Jacksonville avg aid: $14,539/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$66,436
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$50,310
vs HS diploma in Jacksonville
ROI Payback Period
1.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jacksonville
$1,045,064
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,111,500) minus total education cost ($66,436)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Jacksonville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jacksonville for Mechanical Engineering
University of North Florida
public
$6,394/yr
$25,576 total
Jacksonville University
private
$39,280/yr
$157,120 total
Edward Waters University
private
$14,650/yr
$58,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Florida State College at Jacksonville
$3,100/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Jacksonville
Jacksonville offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jacksonville Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby Florida Cities
Miami, FL
$76K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$79K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$75K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$76K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$61K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$77K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$69K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$76K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Jacksonville
Petroleum Engineering
$59K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$96K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$59K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$94K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$94K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$59K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Jacksonville — 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 Jacksonville.