Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary in Denver, CO
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Golden, Arvada, Lakewood.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Mechanical Engineering
Median salary$98,313
Middle 50%$91.1k–$101.8k
vs. national median+9%comparison median $90,063
Filings19FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,427 |
| 25th | $91,120 |
| 50th (median) | $98,313 |
| 75th | $101,780 |
| 90th | $106,189 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 1 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2022 | $82,400 | $64,641 | $85,600 | 17 |
| FY2023 | $89,582 | $88,000 | $104,365 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $92,150 | $89,090 | $102,901 | 10 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2026 | $98,707 | $91,560 | $102,867 | 12 |
Cost of living
Denver's median Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary of $98,313 is worth about $92,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Denver = 105.8).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance for Energy Innovation | $99,102 | 11 |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy | too few | 7 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | $97,768 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior · Level III | $68,058 | $97,768 | 13 |
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.