Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary in Wichita, KS
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings in the Wichita, KS metro area, FY2025–FY2026.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Mechanical Engineering
Median salary$71,406
Middle 50%$65.4k–$76.8k
vs. national median−21%comparison median $90,063
Filings14FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,002 |
| 25th | $65,375 |
| 50th (median) | $71,406 |
| 75th | $76,750 |
| 90th | $82,900 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2023 | $61,516 | $60,000 | $66,347 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $72,000 | $68,000 | $79,000 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $71,406 | $65,000 | $76,000 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 1 |
Cost of living
Wichita's median Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary of $71,406 is worth about $80,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Wichita = 88.9).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita State University | $71,406 | 14 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $67,000 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 3 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $57,117 | $67,000 | 11 |
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.