Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $105,680 and $166,110, with a median of $130,000.
Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 7 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $87,000. 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 | 3 | $85,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $110,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyco Fire Products, LP | Mechanical Engineer III, Lead Analyst | 1 | $107,037 |
| Eliquent Life Sciences | Validation Engineer | 1 | $87,194 |
| SmithGroup, Inc., subsidiary of SmithGroup Co., Inc. | Mechanical Engineer (non-licensed) | 1 | $83,000 |
| R&R Mechanical LLC | Construction Manager | 1 | $110,000 |
| Current Surgical Inc. | Mechanical Engineer | 1 | $85,000 |
| ENGENIUM GROUP, LLC | Mechanical Designer | 1 | $87,000 |
| Trustees of Amherst College | Mechanical Controls Systems Specialist | 1 | $80,704 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Mechanical Engineer III, Lead Analyst at Tyco Fire Products, LP$107,037WashingtonDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-469609
- Validation Engineer at Eliquent Life Sciences$87,194WashingtonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-398814
- Mechanical Engineer (non-licensed) at SmithGroup, Inc., subsidiary of SmithGroup Co., Inc.$83,000WashingtonDecided May 19, 2025I-200-25132-964705
- Construction Manager at R&R Mechanical LLC$110,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided May 15, 2025I-200-25128-956167
- Mechanical Engineer at Current Surgical Inc.$85,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-923289
- Mechanical Designer at ENGENIUM GROUP, LLC$87,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25113-895223
- Mechanical Controls Systems Specialist at Trustees of Amherst College$80,704WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jan 27, 2025I-200-25020-629775
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.
Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in District of Columbia
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 in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 7 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $87,097.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Eliquent Life Sciences | 4 | $87,097 |
| Government and public sector | Tyco Fire Products, LP | 1 | $107,037 |
| Manufacturing | Current Surgical Inc. | 1 | $85,000 |
| Technology and software | Trustees of Amherst College | 1 | $80,704 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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 District of Columbia
Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$121,060
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia is $130,000.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The District of Columbia median is +24.2% versus the BLS national figure of $104,651.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,760 and the 90th-percentile at $191,880, 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.