Mechanical Engineers in Colorado. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in Colorado had a median annual wage of $108,060 in 2024, about 3% above the national median of $104,651. That gap is modest in headline terms, but Colorado's cost-of-living index sits at 103, close to the national baseline. The nominal premium and the local cost of living nearly cancel out, so purchasing power lands roughly at the national average.
The spread across earners is wide. The 10th-percentile wage was $76,180; the 90th hit $176,300. Top earners make about 2.3 times what those at the bottom of the range do. The average wage of $120,890 sits well above the median, which tells us a smaller group of senior or specialized engineers pulls the mean up.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Colorado's concentration in aerospace, defense, and energy gives the state a broad base of employers for this occupation, though the wage data here covers all sub-sectors together.
With 6,850 Mechanical Engineers employed in the state, Colorado ranks among the larger markets for this occupation outside the coastal tech hubs. The combination of near-parity cost of living and a faster-than-average growth projection makes the state's numbers worth watching in the next BLS release.
Salary distribution
Where Colorado mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,710 and $149,790, with a median of $124,430.
Mechanical Engineers in Colorado: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 65 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $106,621. 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 | 12 | $81,634 |
| Level II — qualified | 26 | $105,297 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $125,968 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 14 | $154,855 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Colorado. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | Acoustics Engineering | 4 | $138,829 |
| AspenMount LLC | Mechanical Engineer | 3 | $96,200 |
| ENVISION ENERGY USA LTD. | Blade Loads and Control Engineer | 3 | $110,074 |
| QUEST GLOBAL SERVICES- N.A., INC. | Lead Engineer | 3 | $106,621 |
| Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. | Mechanical Engineer | 2 | $107,235 |
| AtmosZero, Inc. | Senior Aerodynamics Engineer | 2 | $129,750 |
| Climax Molybdenum Company | Mechanical Engineer I | 2 | $84,100 |
| ELITE ENGINEERING &CONSTRUCTIONS LLC | Mechanical Design Engineer | 2 | $97,000 |
| Tata Consultancy Services Limited | Analysis Engineer | 2 | $90,688 |
| Tesla, Inc. | Materials Engineer | 2 | $113,860 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Mechanical Engineer at L&T Technology Services Limited$106,621LafayetteWage Level IIDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-668385
- Thermal Systems Engineer at Optigrid, LLC$106,621LongmontWage Level IIDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-649884
- Senior Commissioning Manager at Fluidstack Inc.$275,000DenverWage Level IVDecided Jan 15, 2026I-200-26008-544030
- Senior Project Manager at Norgren LLC$149,579DenverWage Level IIDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-481841
- AR/VR Module Development Engineer at Apple Inc.$162,000BoulderWage Level IVDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25342-463780
- Mechanical Estimator & Drafter at All-City Metal, Inc.$150,000Colorado SpringsWage Level IVDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-461886
- Mechanical Engineer at Sunrun, Inc.$95,500Highlands RanchWage Level IDecided Nov 26, 2025I-200-25323-422961
- Senior Mechanical Engineer at Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.$123,657Fort CollinsDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-413918
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 Colorado
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 Colorado
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 20 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $95,200.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | AspenMount LLC | 13 | $95,200 |
| Lead Engineer | QUEST GLOBAL SERVICES- N.A., INC. | 4 | $110,851 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | ELITE ENGINEERING &CONSTRUCTIONS LLC | 3 | $97,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Colorado, by industry
Median offered wage across 63 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $113,860.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 27 | $113,860 |
| Professional services | AspenMount LLC | 20 | $97,000 |
| Technology and software | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 8 | $120,172 |
| Energy and utilities | Climax Molybdenum Company | 5 | $84,100 |
| Education | University of Colorado | 2 | $89,437 |
| Transportation and logistics | Tallgrass Management LLC | 1 | $200,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Colorado 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Colorado
Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Colorado metropolitan areas.
- Denver$128,180
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Colorado with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Colorado?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Colorado is $124,430.
- How does Colorado compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Colorado median is +15.6% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Colorado?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $75,100 and the 90th-percentile at $170,810, 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.