Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of $115,270 in 2024, about 10% above the national median of $104,651. That is a meaningful gap for a state this size, and it holds up across the distribution.
The spread from the 10th to the 90th percentile runs from $79,730 to $186,150. Top earners in the state make roughly 2.3 times what those starting out do. That kind of range usually reflects a mix of experience levels and specializations within the field, not a single uniform job type.
Rhode Island's cost-of-living index sits right at 100, which means the headline wage is also close to what the money actually buys in day-to-day terms. A $115,270 median here goes about as far as $115,270 would in a typical US market. For states with a large nominal premium, that adjustment often tells a different story. Here it does not change much.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, which falls in the faster-than-average category. That is the national projection, so Rhode Island may track differently depending on which sectors in the state hire from this occupation, but the broader demand signal points up.
The mean annual wage of $122,900 runs about $7,600 above the median. A gap in that direction usually means a smaller group of senior or specialized engineers pull the average up. For most people in this occupation, the median is the more representative figure.
Salary distribution
Where Rhode Island mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $99,350 and $154,690, with a median of $116,230.
Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 8 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $102,391. 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 | $80,974 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $105,401 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $136,968 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $205,403 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dassault Systemes Americas Corp | R&D Technology Manager | 4 | $127,384 |
| Brown University | Energy Engineer | 1 | $83,259 |
| Cadence, Inc. | Manufacturing Process Engineer | 1 | $80,974 |
| Nordson EFD LLC | Mechanical Engineer II | 1 | $99,382 |
| Technosoft Services, Inc. | Mechanical Design Engineer | 1 | $74,100 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- R&D Technology Manager at Dassault Systemes Americas Corp$136,968JohnstonWage Level IIIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-720020
- Mechanical Engineer II at Nordson EFD LLC$99,382East ProvidenceWage Level IIDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-716830
- Manufacturing Process Engineer at Cadence, Inc.$80,974CranstonWage Level IDecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25317-403857
- Energy Engineer at Brown University$83,259ProvidenceWage Level IDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-370263
- SIMULIA Software Engineering Specialist at Dassault Systemes Americas Corp$117,800JohnstonWage Level IIDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-866104
- Mechanical Design Engineer at Technosoft Services, Inc.$74,100CranstonWage Level IDecided Jan 22, 2025I-200-25014-616364
- SIMULIA User Success Engineering Manager at Dassault Systemes Americas Corp$105,401JohnstonWage Level IIDecided Mar 20, 2026I-200-26072-700743
- Simulia R&D Engineering Architecture Director at Dassault Systemes Americas Corp$205,403JohnstonWage Level IVDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-374713
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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island, by industry
Median offered wage across 8 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $127,384.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Dassault Systemes Americas Corp | 4 | $127,384 |
| Manufacturing | Cadence, Inc. | 2 | $90,178 |
| Education | Brown University | 1 | $83,259 |
| Professional services | Technosoft Services, Inc. | 1 | $74,100 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Rhode Island metropolitan areas.
- Providence$111,360
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Rhode Island with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island is $116,230.
- How does Rhode Island compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Rhode Island median is +8.0% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Rhode Island?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,000 and the 90th-percentile at $195,190, 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.