Mechanical Engineering Degree in Kent, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Kent, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$90K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$127K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.1 yrs
in Kent
Cost of Living
115.8
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Kent, WA Overview
Kent, Washington (pop. 136,588) has 6 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 115.8 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,440/month. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Kent is approximately $90,324.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,433/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,467/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Kent (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kent's cost of living index of 115.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Kent adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Kent
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Kent tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Kent avg aid: $12,467/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$49,794
vs HS diploma in Kent
ROI Payback Period
2.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kent
$995,168
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,100,100) minus total education cost ($104,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Kent
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kent for Mechanical Engineering
Kent State University
public
$12,886/yr
$51,544 total
University of Kent
public
$10,829/yr
$43,316 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kent Community College
$5,759/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Kent
Kent offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kent Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$94K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$94K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$88K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$85K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$139K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$92K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$96K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$96K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Kent
Petroleum Engineering
$58K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$95K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$93K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$93K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Kent — 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 Kent.