Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Columbus, OH
Based on 68 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Columbus, OH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Raymond, Dublin, Marysville, New Albany, Powell.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,198 |
| 25th | $70,283 |
| 50th (median) | $70,502 |
| 75th | $80,075 |
| 90th | $93,489 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $62,000 | $61,402 | $62,452 | 39 |
| FY2021 | $64,480 | $62,504 | $69,274 | 23 |
| FY2022 | $63,700 | $62,000 | $73,600 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $65,000 | $64,225 | $70,000 | 28 |
| FY2024 | $67,870 | $64,834 | $76,986 | 24 |
| FY2025 | $70,283 | $70,283 | $79,000 | 50 |
| FY2026 | $75,769 | $70,000 | $85,015 | 18 |
Cost of living
Columbus's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $70,502 is worth about $73,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbus = 95.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Columbus, OH area earned a median of $100,730 in May 2025 (2,630 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,502, 30% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Goken America | $70,283 | 32 |
| Honda Development & Manufacturing Of America | too few | 9 |
| Alten Technology | too few | 2 |
| Axium Packaging | too few | 2 |
| Matz America | too few | 2 |
| The Ohio State University | 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 | $70,502 | 68 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,682 | 194 |
| Senior · Level III | $101,483 | 75 |
| Expert · Level IV | $119,196 | 38 |
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 | $70,283 | $70,502 | 68 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,883 | $87,682 | 194 |
| Senior · Level III | $97,573 | $101,483 | 75 |
| Expert · Level IV | $112,070 | $119,196 | 38 |
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.