Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Lafayette, IN
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes West Lafayette, Lafayetta, Newburgh.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,000 |
| 25th | $61,500 |
| 50th (median) | $67,426 |
| 75th | $74,526 |
| 90th | $82,333 |
Cost of living
Lafayette's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $67,426 is worth about $72,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Lafayette = 93.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Lafayette, IN area earned a median of $100,690 in May 2025 (510 employed). The H-1B median here is $67,426, 33% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue University | too few | 7 |
| Axiscades | 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 | $67,426 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,525 | 23 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 | $69,950 | $67,426 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,525 | $88,525 | 23 |
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.