Mechanical Engineers in Indiana. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Mechanical Engineer in Indiana earned $99,200 in 2024, about 5% below the US median of $104,651. That is a modest gap by regional standards, and cost of living closes most of it.
Indiana's overall price level runs about 9% below the national baseline. Adjusted for what the money actually buys, the $99,200 median translates to roughly $108,800 in national-baseline dollars, putting Indiana engineers slightly ahead of the typical US peer in real purchasing terms.
The range across experience levels is wide. The bottom tenth of earners made around $64,770, while the top tenth reached $137,990. Top earners take home about twice what entry-level peers do, which reflects the genuine variation in seniority, industry, and specialization across the state's manufacturing base. The spread between the 25th and 75th percentiles alone runs from $79,940 to $124,500, so where someone lands within that band depends heavily on their sector and how long they have been working.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Indiana's concentration in automotive, defense, and industrial manufacturing means local demand tends to track national capital spending cycles fairly closely. When manufacturers invest, the state tends to see it early.
Salary distribution
Where Indiana mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,630 and $127,700, with a median of $99,590.
Mechanical Engineers in Indiana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 642 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $95,847. 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 | 75 | $74,526 |
| Level II — qualified | 168 | $92,894 |
| Level III — experienced | 127 | $116,938 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 63 | $130,416 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Indiana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cummins Inc. | ES Product Specialist | 327 | $95,847 |
| LER TechForce, LLC | Calibration Engineer | 31 | $103,438 |
| Cummins Emission Solutions Inc. | Thermal and Fluid Systems Technical Specialist | 25 | $95,847 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Engineer | 13 | $106,605 |
| KPIT Technologies, Inc. | Senior Technical Lead | 10 | $108,446 |
| HCL AMERICA INC | Senior Design Lead | 9 | $67,704 |
| TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | Mechanical Engineer | 9 | $87,548 |
| Purdue University | Post Doctoral Research Associate | 8 | $63,500 |
| BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc. | Electrical Engineering Architect | 6 | $107,620 |
| CANPACK US LLC | Operations Engineer | 6 | $58,802 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Mechanical Engineer at Bolder Industries, LLC$165,000CarmelWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26084-729517
- Mechanical Engineer at INFONERO INC$88,525LafayetteWage Level IIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26081-720607
- Product Engineer at Tata Technologies, Inc.$88,525LafayetteWage Level IIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-711281
- Combustion and Emissions Systems Technical Specialist at Cummins Inc.$99,286ColumbusDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707728
- ES Product Specialist at Cummins Inc.$121,181COLUMBUSWage Level IIIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707745
- ES Product Engineer at Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.$95,847ColumbusDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707725
- Technical Group Leader at Cummins Inc.$109,734ColumbusDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707581
- ESC Technical Specialist at Cummins Inc.$121,181ColumbusWage Level IIIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707582
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.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in Indiana
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 Indiana
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 250 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $88,525.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | INFONERO INC | 54 | $88,525 |
| Thermal and Fluid Systems Technical Specialist | Cummins Inc. | 31 | $95,847 |
| ES Product Specialist | Cummins Inc. | 26 | $105,165 |
| Design Engineer | TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | 19 | $89,024 |
| Engineer | Eli Lilly and Company | 19 | $95,000 |
| Product Engineering Specialist | Cummins Inc. | 18 | $95,847 |
| Combustion and Emissions Systems Technical Specialist | Cummins Inc. | 18 | $95,847 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Technosoft Services, Inc. | 16 | $86,000 |
| ES Technical Specialist | Cummins Inc. | 13 | $103,438 |
| Product Engineer | Cummins Inc. | 13 | $88,525 |
| Product Systems Validation Technical Specialist | Cummins Inc. | 12 | $99,362 |
| Thermal and Fluid Systems Engineer | Cummins Inc. | 11 | $82,039 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Indiana, by industry
Median offered wage across 636 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $95,847.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Cummins Inc. | 468 | $95,847 |
| Professional services | LER TechForce, LLC | 90 | $92,935 |
| Technology and software | HCL AMERICA INC | 61 | $85,500 |
| Education | Purdue University | 8 | $63,500 |
| Retail and wholesale | Sortera Technologies Inc. | 5 | $85,446 |
| Media and entertainment | Rahal Letterman Lanigan, LLC | 2 | $140,200 |
| Energy and utilities | American Electric Power | 2 | $82,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Indiana 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Mechanical Engineers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Indiana
Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Indiana metropolitan areas.
- Indianapolis$98,680
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Indiana with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Indiana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Indiana is $99,590.
- How does Indiana compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Indiana median is -7.5% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Indiana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $66,330 and the 90th-percentile at $143,090, 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.