Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Cincinnati, OH
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mason, Blue Ash, Milford, Florence, West Chester.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,698 |
| 25th | $72,779 |
| 50th (median) | $76,960 |
| 75th | $80,000 |
| 90th | $83,700 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $62,000 | $61,000 | $63,000 | 35 |
| FY2021 | $70,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $67,000 | $60,288 | $73,611 | 26 |
| FY2023 | $75,979 | $69,450 | $78,280 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $75,000 | $68,575 | $79,726 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $78,000 | $73,785 | $80,900 | 15 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Cincinnati's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $76,960 is worth about $80,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Cincinnati = 95.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Cincinnati, OH area earned a median of $104,220 in May 2025 (3,310 employed). The H-1B median here is $76,960, 26% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Gimbal Innovations | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $76,960 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,000 | 53 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,705 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,000 | 15 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $71,698 | $76,960 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $89,086 | $90,000 | 53 |
| Senior · Level III | $106,621 | $120,705 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $123,531 | $140,000 | 15 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.