Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141.00)
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An automated macro-level review of the Mechanical Engineers career sector.Above Average Margin
Professionals receive a median pay of $110,000. This includes a solid 7.9% premium over the prevailing minimum wage.
Employment Placement
Data reveals a split in how these roles are managed: 82.8% work internally for their sponsor, while 17.2% operate offsite as consultants.
How Employers Recruit
In this occupation, 45.5% of the sponsorship volume goes toward new job creation, leaving 54.5% dedicated to transferring current workers.
Highest Job Count
More people get hired for this job in Columbus than anywhere else. Local companies here pay a median wage of $96,076.
Path to Residency
Many workers in the Mechanical Engineers profession end up staying permanently. Businesses successfully transition 100.0% of these work visa holders into Green Card applicants.
Role & Industry Structure
Federal classifications for this position.Job Market Grade: C
Across the country, companies filed 1,328 work visas for the Mechanical Engineers role. Because the visa approval trends and employer hiring speeds are lower than other fields, this career gets an overall H1B Index grade of C.
Career Multiplier Growth
Workers in this occupation see their pay multiply by 1.8x as they transition from entry-level roles into fully competent, highly experienced positions.
Median Wage Trajectory
O*NET Experience Distribution
Volume of filings broken down by required experience levels.National Wage Distribution
Percentile breaks and experience-based volume.| O*NET Wage Level | LCA Volume | Median Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 167 | $81,432 |
| Level II (Qualified) | 475 | $96,934 |
| Level III (Experienced) | 298 | $121,909 |
| Level IV (Fully Competent) | 307 | $144,841 |
Top Geographic Markets (States)
The primary states driving visa volume for this SOC code.Top Corporate Sponsors
The leading employers hiring under this classification.Top Specific Job Titles
Specific internal roles mapping to this SOC.Top Active Cities
Granular city-level demand mapping.Visa Volume & Success
LCA approvals, denials, and certification rates.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients hiring under Mechanical Engineers.Specific Job Titles Matrix
Every internal corporate role mapped to this federal SOC code.Complete Metros Matrix
Data ledger of all cities filing for this occupation.Complete States Matrix
Data ledger of all states filing for this occupation.Law Firms Matrix
Data ledger of all legal counsel used for this occupation.Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | Maximum | Median | Average | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $555,000 | $110,000 | $111,501 | $32 |
| 2025 | $412,000 | $102,731 | $103,156 | $22 |
| 2024 | $320,000 | $99,028 | $99,897 | $22 |
| 2023 | $315,000 | $95,000 | $95,779 | $17 |
| 2022 | $412,000 | $90,000 | $92,260 | $23 |
| 2021 | $300,000 | $87,672 | $87,677 | $23 |
| 2020 | $800,000 | $81,163 | $79,259 | $20 |
| 2019 | $800,000 | $78,478 | $77,474 | $20 |
| 2018 | $220,000 | $77,147 | $75,129 | $0 |
| 2017 | $249,636 | $73,986 | $72,120 | $11 |
| 2016 | $750,000 | $72,000 | $70,473 | $19 |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed.Occupation Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding Mechanical Engineers.Is there a high demand for Mechanical Engineers professionals?
Yes, employers are currently paying a 7.9% wage premium above the federal minimum, indicating intense competition for this skill set.
Do employers sponsor permanent residency for SOC 17-2141.00 roles?
Yes, there is a clear pathway. Employers transition roughly 100.0% of their temporary Mechanical Engineers workforce into permanent legal residents.
What is the national median salary for Mechanical Engineers professionals?
For the Mechanical Engineers category, federal data indicates a median prevailing wage of $110,000.