Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141.00)
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A macro-level review of the Mechanical Engineers career sector.Job Market Grade: "C"
Companies filed 1,328 work visas for the Mechanical Engineers role nationwide. Slower hiring speeds compared to other fields result in a grade of "C".
Healthy Base Pay
Workers earn a median of $114,000. Employers are offering salaries that sit 8.7% higher than the required baseline.
Work Location Breakdown
Looking at national data, 82.8% of these professionals work at their direct employer's office, while 17.2% are placed at external client sites.
Hiring Intent Breakdown
Employers currently dedicate 45.5% of their filings to fresh employment, and use 54.5% to recruit professionals from other organizations.
Top Hiring City
Columbus has the most jobs for the Mechanical Engineers role. Companies in this city pay a median salary of $95,847.
Long-Term Sponsorship
Companies highly value professionals in this field. Right now, 100.0% of temporary workers in this job are actively being sponsored for permanent residency.
Salary History & Trajectory
Comparing base compensation growth for Mechanical Engineers. Temporary H-1B medians vs permanent Green Card (PERM).Top Specific Job Titles
Key metrics and pay rates for the most common roles in this SOC Code.Mechanical Engineer
13.0% of VisasDesign Engineer
3.1% of VisasMechanical Design Engineer
2.4% of VisasSenior Mechanical Engineer
2.2% of VisasSystem Product Design Engineer
1.7% of VisasProject Engineer
1.6% of VisasSalary by Experience Level
Salary breakdown scaled by federal experience classifications (O*NET Wage Level Distribution).| EXPERIENCE LEVEL | TOTAL FILINGS | COHORT SIZE | MINIMUM BASE | MEDIAN SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 167 | 12.6% | $47,445 | $81,432 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 475 | 35.8% | $58,282 | $98,036 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 298 | 22.4% | $69,118 | $124,978 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 307 | 23.1% | $79,955 | $144,841 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 81 | 6.1% | $77,030 | $105,000 |
Corporate Age Distribution
Offsite Deployments & End Clients
Primary third-party campuses where contractors in this occupation are physically deployed.Visa Approvals & Success Rate
Approved LCA filings and certification rates.Visa Denials & Withdrawals
Denied and withdrawn federal applications.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency filings 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
All Sponsoring Employers
A detailed list of all corporate clients hiring under Mechanical Engineers.All Job Titles
Every internal corporate role covered under this federal SOC code.All Sponsoring States
Complete data list of all states filing for this occupation.Historical Salary Data
The year-over-year (YOY) salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | Maximum | Median | Average | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $555,000 | $111,833 | $121,485 | $12,000 |
| 2025 | $412,000 | $103,999 | $112,086 | $1,480 |
| 2024 | $320,000 | $100,006 | $107,928 | $1,826 |
| 2023 | $315,000 | $97,888 | $104,318 | $1,346 |
| 2022 | $412,000 | $97,760 | $104,844 | $1,430 |
| 2021 | $380,000 | $94,500 | $101,405 | $1,057 |
| 2020 | $800,000 | $85,779 | $93,811 | $1,146 |
| 2019 | $800,000 | $82,618 | $89,678 | $2,769 |
| 2018 | $290,000 | $82,000 | $87,529 | $0 |
| 2017 | $430,000 | $78,000 | $83,467 | $1,061 |
| 2016 | $750,000 | $76,273 | $81,280 | $1,296 |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Common questions and verified data insights regarding Mechanical Engineers.Is there a high demand for Mechanical Engineers professionals?
Yes, employers are currently paying a 8.7% wage premium above the federal minimum, indicating intense competition for this skill set.
Which state is the top sponsor for the Mechanical Engineers classification?
Based on DOL data, California sponsors the highest volume of work visas for this specific occupational code.
What are the chances of getting a Green Card as a Mechanical Engineers professional?
Employers actively invest in this talent pool, filing PERM Green Card applications for about 100.0% of their H-1B workers in this code.