Mid-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Columbia, SC
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Columbia, SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes West Columbia, Hopkins, Ridgeway, Batesburg-Leesville, Irmo.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $75,005 |
| 25th | $77,250 |
| 50th (median) | $91,100 |
| 75th | $100,000 |
| 90th | $104,000 |
Cost of living
Columbia's median mid-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $91,100 is worth about $97,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbia = 93.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Columbia, SC area earned a median of $102,280 in May 2025 (450 employed). The H-1B median here is $91,100, 11% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hitachi Rail STS | too few | 2 |
| MEKRA Lang North America | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $91,100 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,909 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $75,005 | $91,100 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $91,416 | $103,909 | 10 |
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.