Expert Mechanical Engineer salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 38 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redmond, Everett, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $138,840 |
| 25th | $142,256 |
| 50th (median) | $153,046 |
| 75th | $183,750 |
| 90th | $209,620 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | $145,000 | $132,780 | $178,750 | 14 |
| FY2022 | $133,440 | $120,682 | $190,617 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $126,880 | $120,370 | $150,000 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $150,000 | $138,840 | $202,000 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $150,000 | $138,840 | $178,400 | 15 |
| FY2026 | $155,000 | $144,646 | $191,970 | 23 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median expert Mechanical Engineer salary of $153,046 is worth about $137,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $126,590 in May 2025 (4,500 employed). The H-1B median here is $153,046, 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | too few | 6 |
| Apple | too few | 2 |
| H10 Seattle | too few | 2 |
| Lenovo Global Technology (United States) | too few | 2 |
| Microsoft | too few | 2 |
| Zap Energy | 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 | $87,225 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,960 | 57 |
| Senior · Level III | $133,127 | 59 |
| Expert · Level IV | $153,046 | 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 | $79,248 | $87,225 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,112 | $114,960 | 57 |
| Senior · Level III | $123,594 | $133,127 | 59 |
| Expert · Level IV | $141,835 | $153,046 | 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.