Expert Mechanical Engineer salary in Milwaukee, WI
Based on 38 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $107,828 |
| 25th | $112,486 |
| 50th (median) | $115,366 |
| 75th | $129,558 |
| 90th | $136,188 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | $101,500 | $95,118 | $110,075 | 22 |
| FY2022 | $107,000 | $99,258 | $112,480 | 21 |
| FY2023 | $112,000 | $106,090 | $120,000 | 17 |
| FY2024 | $111,136 | $106,704 | $124,000 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $115,000 | $109,463 | $127,605 | 19 |
| FY2026 | $119,543 | $112,493 | $128,797 | 19 |
Cost of living
Milwaukee's median expert Mechanical Engineer salary of $115,366 is worth about $119,000 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 $115,366, 17% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Electric Tool | $115,732 | 19 |
| INNIO Waukesha Gas Engines | too few | 4 |
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.