Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Minneapolis, MN
Based on 31 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Plymouth, Fridley, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Shoreview.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,011 |
| 25th | $71,386 |
| 50th (median) | $74,963 |
| 75th | $83,953 |
| 90th | $88,440 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $63,918 | $63,918 | $72,850 | 16 |
| FY2021 | $70,680 | $65,458 | $72,800 | 21 |
| FY2022 | $71,869 | $66,165 | $76,896 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $66,373 | $64,251 | $73,750 | 16 |
| FY2024 | $71,390 | $66,500 | $80,338 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $71,990 | $71,011 | $80,800 | 16 |
| FY2026 | $74,963 | $74,963 | $84,350 | 15 |
Cost of living
Minneapolis's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $74,963 is worth about $71,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Minneapolis = 104.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Minneapolis, MN area earned a median of $101,180 in May 2025 (4,450 employed). The H-1B median here is $74,963, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cummins | too few | 4 |
| Idom | too few | 4 |
| Evs | too few | 3 |
| University of Minnesota | too few | 3 |
| Andersen | 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 | $74,963 | 31 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $93,600 | 95 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,637 | 54 |
| Expert · Level IV | $126,443 | 46 |
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 | $71,011 | $74,963 | 31 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,123 | $93,600 | 95 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,283 | $109,637 | 54 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,141 | $126,443 | 46 |
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.