H-1B Mechanical Engineer Hiring Trends and Insights
Explore H-1B visa filings for Mechanical Engineers. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $114,867 |
| Salary Range | $64,480 - $185,000 |
| Top Sponsor | General Motors |
| Primary Location | Michigan |
Mechanical Engineers is one of the H-1B visa categories with 23 filings and an average salary of $122,468. The demand for Mechanical Engineers on H-1B visas is stable, with a slight increase in recent years. The average salary for H-1B Mechanical Engineers is competitive, aligning with industry standards. Geographic concentration is low, with a few states showing minor activity, indicating broad opportunities. The majority of H-1B Mechanical Engineers are hired at mid-level experience, suggesting a focus on established professionals.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $114,867 |
| Median Salary | $110,581 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,920 |
| 75th Percentile | $129,266 |
| Minimum Salary | $64,480 |
| Maximum Salary | $185,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $78,624 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,920 |
| Median (50th) | $110,581 |
| 75th Percentile | $129,266 |
| 90th Percentile | $159,085 |
| Average | $114,867 |
| Sample Size | 100 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 99 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
How do H-1B salaries for Mechanical Engineers compare to the overall U.S. workforce? Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 OEWS) compared to H-1B LCA filings.
| Percentile | H-1B Salary | U.S. Domestic (BLS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,624 | $68,740 | +14% |
| 25th | $95,920 | $81,800 | +17% |
| Median | $110,581 | $102,320 | +8% |
| 75th | $129,266 | $130,290 | -1% |
| 90th | $159,085 | $161,240 | -1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. H-1B data from DOL LCA filings.
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| General Motors | 35 | $128k |
| Black & Veatch Corporation | 6 | $99k |
| Frore Systems, Inc. | 4 | $163k |
| Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc. | 3 | $93k |
| Innovation Dynamics Inc. | 2 | $125k |
| Brazeway, LLC | 2 | $101k |
| Dalton Smith Construction, LLC | 2 | $100k |
| Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | 2 | $102k |
| Array Technologies Inc. | 2 | $102k |
| CAV Manufacturing | 1 | $74k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 46 |
| California | 14 |
| Ohio | 6 |
| Maryland | 4 |
| Minnesota | 3 |
| South Carolina | 2 |
| Massachusetts | 2 |
| Georgia | 2 |
| Texas | 2 |
| Florida | 2 |
Focus on developing specialized skills and demonstrating a strong track record of project success to stand out in the competitive H-1B Mechanical Engineer job market.
The average H-1B salary for Mechanical Engineers is $122,468, with a median of $125,362. The 25th-75th percentile range is $100,000 to $135,000.
Top H-1B sponsors for Mechanical Engineers include General Motors, Shriji Polymers LLC, TOOGANN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Ampd Energy USA LLC, TREMEC Corporation. A total of 17 employers have filed for this role.
There are 23 H-1B filings on record for Mechanical Engineers positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Mechanical Engineers positions are Michigan (12), California (3), Ohio (2), Minnesota (2), New Jersey (1).
Yes, Mechanical Engineers is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 23 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $60,923 to $185,000. The median salary is $125,362.
The approval rate for Mechanical Engineers H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The number of H-1B petitions for Mechanical Engineers has seen a notable uptick in FY2025.
The average salary is $125,362, with a median of $122,468.
Focus on developing specialized skills and demonstrating a strong track record of project success to stand out in the competitive H-1B Mechanical Engineer job market.
The data shows a significant number of hires at the $185,000 salary bracket.
The Mechanical Engineers occupation (SOC code 17-2141) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Mechanical Engineers positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Mechanical Engineers positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Mechanical Engineers positions show an average offered salary of $114,867, with a range from $64,480 at the entry level to $185,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Michigan (46 filings) and California (14 filings). According to BLS data, there are approximately 286,760 workers employed in this occupation across the United States.
Career outlook for Mechanical Engineers professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Mechanical Engineers role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Mechanical Engineers roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Mechanical Engineers positions, the average offered salary of $114,867 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 14.3%, with 76% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Mechanical Engineers positions is 98%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Mechanical Engineers positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Mechanical Engineers H-1B filings is approximately 36 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Mechanical Engineers positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Warren | Michigan | 28 |
| San Jose | California | 5 |
| Farmington Hills | Michigan | 4 |
| Milford | Michigan | 4 |
| Jessup | Maryland | 3 |
| Adrian | Michigan | 2 |
| Akron | Ohio | 2 |
| Chandler | Arizona | 2 |
| Rancho Cordova | California | 2 |
| Overland Park | Kansas | 2 |
Other H-1B job categories related to Mechanical Engineers, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.