Mechanical Engineering Degree in Tacoma, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Tacoma, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$88K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$124K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2 yrs
in Tacoma
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Tacoma, WA Overview
Tacoma is one of Washington's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 23,456. Public tuition averages $10,637/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 Tacoma is approximately $88,140.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$10,637/yr
Private Tuition
$52,153/yr
Room & Board
$13,707/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,864/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
60%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Tacoma (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tacoma's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Tacoma adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Tacoma
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Tacoma tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,637 | Private avg: $52,153
Tacoma avg aid: $8,864/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,376
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$48,590
vs HS diploma in Tacoma
ROI Payback Period
2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tacoma
$976,124
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,073,500) minus total education cost ($97,376)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Tacoma
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tacoma for Mechanical Engineering
University of Puget Sound
private
$56,156/yr
$224,624 total
Pacific Lutheran University
private
$48,150/yr
$192,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tacoma Community College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Tacoma
Tacoma offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tacoma 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
Vancouver, WA
$85K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$139K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$90K starting · COL 115.8
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 Tacoma
Petroleum Engineering
$57K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$93K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$57K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$90K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$90K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$57K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Tacoma — 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 Tacoma.