Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas had a median annual wage of $78,570 in 2024, about 25% below the national median of $104,651. That is a notable gap, and the state's lower cost of living closes some of it. Arkansas's cost-of-living index sits at 88.3, meaning prices run roughly 12% below the US baseline. After accounting for that, the effective purchasing power of the median wage lands closer to $89,000 in national-dollar terms, which narrows the gap to around 15%.
The spread between the bottom and top of the pay range is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned about $53,970 while those at the 90th earned $122,250. Top earners make roughly 2.3 times what entry-level peers do. That kind of range usually reflects real differences in how senior someone is, what sub-specialty they work in, and which industry is signing the checks.
Arkansas employs about 1,150 Mechanical Engineers, a relatively small base compared to industrial states like Texas or Ohio. Small employment pools tend to produce more variable wages, since a handful of large manufacturing or defense employers can move the average considerably. The mean of $84,370 sits above the median by about $5,800, which tells us a smaller group of higher-paid engineers pulls the average up.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, faster than average. That outlook applies nationally, and the Arkansas picture could diverge depending on how manufacturing investment in the region develops over that period.
Salary distribution
Where Arkansas mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $65,620 and $103,850, with a median of $80,180.
Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 25 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,750. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 5 | $60,736 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $90,250 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $96,502 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 11 | $92,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rheem Manufacturing Company | Project Engineer III | 4 | $94,250 |
| Derm Cosmetics Labs, Inc. | Mechanical Engineer | 3 | $71,614 |
| Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. | Flight Line Mechanic | 2 | $67,020 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | Manager, Automation Engineering | 2 | $145,886 |
| Welspun Pipes, Inc. | Junior Mechanical Engineer | 2 | $75,743 |
| Alten Technology USA, Inc. | Mechanical Engineer - Design | 1 | $84,000 |
| D&N Machining LLC | Director of Program Engineering & Estimator | 1 | $84,386 |
| Dassault Falcon Jet Corp | Senior Functional Support Engineer I | 1 | $100,000 |
| ENFRA TME, LLC | Project Manager I - Design | 1 | $90,750 |
| Entergy Arkansas, LLC | Plant Engineer | 1 | $90,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Junior Mechanical Engineer at Welspun Pipes, Inc.$60,736Little RockWage Level IDecided Mar 20, 2026I-200-26072-701448
- Mechanical Engineer - Design at Alten Technology USA, Inc.$84,000Little RockWage Level IIDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-695474
- Mechanical Engineer at Derm Cosmetics Labs, Inc.$71,614West MemphisWage Level IDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-468265
- Project Engineer III at Rheem Manufacturing Company$92,000Fort SmithWage Level IVDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-419747
- Mechanical Engineer at Derm Cosmetics Labs, Inc.$71,614West MemphisWage Level IDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-383519
- Director of Program Engineering & Estimator at D&N Machining LLC$84,386GreenwoodWage Level IVDecided Sep 12, 2025I-200-25248-291085
- Engineer V at Rheem Manufacturing Company$150,000Fort SmithWage Level IVDecided Aug 11, 2025I-200-25216-220548
- R&D Documentation and Research Engineer at Novozen Healthcare LLC$83,283Fort SmithWage Level IVDecided Jul 3, 2025I-200-25177-130405
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in Arkansas
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in Arkansas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $66,175.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | Derm Cosmetics Labs, Inc. | 4 | $66,175 |
| Project Engineer | Rheem Manufacturing Company | 4 | $92,025 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas, by industry
Median offered wage across 24 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $92,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Rheem Manufacturing Company | 18 | $92,000 |
| Professional services | Alten Technology USA, Inc. | 2 | $87,375 |
| Retail and wholesale | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 2 | $145,886 |
| Energy and utilities | Entergy Arkansas, LLC | 1 | $90,000 |
| Technology and software | Novozen Healthcare LLC | 1 | $83,283 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Arkansas over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas is $80,180.
- How does Arkansas compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Arkansas median is -25.5% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Arkansas?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $57,650 and the 90th-percentile at $131,840, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.