Mechanical Engineer salary
From 41 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 17-2143: Mechanical Engineers, NonR&D
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 40% of Mechanical Engineer filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Fermi Forward Discovery Group. 22 filings (54% of the total), median $95,099.
- Median up 27% since FY2022. From $82,000 in FY2022 to $104,247 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Mechanical Engineer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 41 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Mechanical Engineer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 17-2143, Mechanical Engineers, NonR&D). The median base salary is $88,800, 28% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $80,000 and $111,400. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 40% of filings. Chicago, IL has the most filings (21), and Fermi Forward Discovery Group is the employer that files the most (22).
Is your Mechanical Engineer offer competitive?
Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Mechanical Engineer jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
Enter a salary to see where it falls.
Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Mechanical Engineer
Employers with the most Mechanical Engineer filings. Bar: share of all Mechanical Engineer filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 29% of filings
Mid-level · 40% of filings
Senior · 0% of filings
Expert · 31% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $73,343 | 10 |
| Level II · Qualified | $86,850 | 14 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $111,405 | 11 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Mechanical Engineer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 1 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $95,100 | 21 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,306 |
| 25th | $80,000 |
| 50th (median) | $88,800 |
| 75th | $111,400 |
| 90th | $114,433 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $82,000 | $80,891 | $113,693 | 25 |
| FY2023 | $92,602 | $79,508 | $103,709 | 39 |
| FY2024 | $83,179 | $60,000 | $95,100 | 17 |
| FY2025 | $84,906 | $80,000 | $97,400 | 25 |
| FY2026 | $104,247 | $86,596 | $111,405 | 16 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Mechanical Engineer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Mechanical Engineer jobs is $88,800 (41 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $80,000 and $111,400.
What does an entry-level Mechanical Engineer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $73,343. Level I accounts for 29% of Mechanical Engineer filings.