Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Milwaukee, WI
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Brookfield, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, Germantown, Glendale.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,677 |
| 25th | $71,677 |
| 50th (median) | $73,237 |
| 75th | $75,000 |
| 90th | $83,800 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $61,000 | $60,000 | $65,000 | 17 |
| FY2021 | $73,174 | $69,087 | $79,000 | 39 |
| FY2022 | $65,000 | $63,024 | $65,000 | 12 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2025 | $73,237 | $71,677 | $77,000 | 11 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 2 |
Cost of living
Milwaukee's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $73,237 is worth about $75,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Milwaukee = 96.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Milwaukee, WI area earned a median of $98,730 in May 2025 (2,200 employed). The H-1B median here is $73,237, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Controlled Dynamics | too few | 2 |
| Gehl Foods | 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 | $73,237 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,342 | 54 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,566 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $115,366 | 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 | $71,677 | $73,237 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,717 | $88,342 | 54 |
| Senior · Level III | $94,453 | $104,566 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $112,486 | $115,366 | 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.