RateOrchard
DATA PROFILE · 2024

Mechanical Engineers salary in Kentucky

Slowingmarket
-77%offers
+5.5%wages
heat29/100

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$99,410
Mean annual$103,340
Range (10th to 90th)$71,080 to $139,600
Kentucky employment3,050
State vs national-5.0% vs national

Salary distribution

Where Kentucky mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$71,08025TH$80,970MEDIAN$99,41075TH$120,47090TH$139,600

The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,970 and $120,470, with a median of $99,410.

Real disclosed salaries

Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 53 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,010. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry15$70,000
Level II — qualified23$85,010
Level III — experienced4$107,700
Level IV — fully competent8$133,750

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INCMechanical Design Engineer16$85,010
HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC.SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER6$135,950
KENTUCKIANA CURB COMPANY, INC.HVAC Product Engineer I4$72,145
Flex Films (USA) Inc.Mechanical Engineer3$88,275
Technosoft Services, Inc.MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER3$70,000
Vogt Power International, Inc.Thermal Engineer2$82,610
Jabil Inc.Product Engineer1$89,690
Joy Global Underground Mining LLCEngineer III1$102,500
Fruehauf, Inc.Product Design Engineer1$93,413
Arvato USA LLCSenior Logistics Engineer1$120,000

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Mechanical Engineer at TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC
    $87,901
    LouisvilleDecided Dec 18, 2025I-200-25345-474376
  • Mechanical Engineer at Flex Films (USA) Inc.
    $88,275
    ElzabethtownDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-386819
  • SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER at HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC.
    $134,400
    LOUISVILLEDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-365560
  • Product Engineer at Jabil Inc.
    $89,690
    FlorenceWage Level IIDecided Sep 26, 2025I-200-25262-321837
  • Engineer III at Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    $102,500
    LexingtonWage Level IIDecided Aug 28, 2025I-200-25233-259436
  • Mechanical Engineer at TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC
    $87,901
    LouisvilleWage Level IIDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-238997
  • Product Design Engineer at Fruehauf, Inc.
    $93,413
    Bowling GreenWage Level IIIDecided Aug 1, 2025I-200-25206-199701
  • Senior Logistics Engineer at Arvato USA LLC
    $120,000
    LouisvilleWage Level IVDecided Jul 28, 2025I-200-25202-187808

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.

By seniority

Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in Kentucky

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.

Specialties

Mechanical Engineers specialties in Kentucky

Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 34 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Design Engineer at a median of $85,010.

SpecialtyTop employerFilingsMedian offer
Mechanical Design EngineerTECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC14$85,010
Mechanical EngineerTECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC11$87,901
SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEERHAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC.9$108,300

Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.

Pay by industry

Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky, by industry

Median offered wage across 52 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $97,957.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
ManufacturingHAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC.26$97,957
Technology and softwareTECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC16$85,010
Professional servicesTechnosoft Services, Inc.9$70,000
Energy and utilitiesSchlumberger Technology Corporation1$80,000

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in Kentucky over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, Kentucky2023 to 2024
$95,8202023$99,4102024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge

    4.9 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Knowledge

    4.7 / 5
  • Design

    Knowledge

    4.6 / 5
  • Mechanical

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • Physics

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • English Language

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Oral Comprehension

    Ability

    4.0 / 5
  • Written Comprehension

    Ability

    4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.

  2. 02

    Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.

  3. 03

    Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.

  4. 04

    Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.

  5. 05

    Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.

  6. 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.

  7. 07

    Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in Kentucky

Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.

Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky is $99,410.
How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
The Kentucky median is -5.0% versus the BLS national figure of $104,651.
What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,080 and the 90th-percentile at $139,600, 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.
Disclaimer

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.