Mechanical Engineers in Washington. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Washington's median wage for Mechanical Engineers was $109,370 in 2024, about 4.5% above the national median of $104,651. That is a real premium, though a modest one compared to the gaps you see in some other high-cost states.
The spread is worth noting. The 10th percentile starts at $79,820 and the 90th reaches $163,790. Top earners make roughly twice what entry-level peers do. That gap reflects how much experience and specialization matter in this field. A mechanical engineer deep in aerospace or defense work commands very different pay than one in a general manufacturing role.
Washington's cost-of-living index sits at 108.9, about 9% above the national baseline. Adjusting for that, the effective purchasing power of the state median lands closer to $100,400 in national-dollar terms. The nominal premium over the US median shrinks considerably once you account for what the money actually buys here.
BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. Washington's concentration of aerospace and advanced manufacturing work gives it a reasonable base for that kind of growth, though the state figure will depend on how those specific industries perform over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where Washington mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $94,560 and $139,870, with a median of $110,430.
Mechanical Engineers in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 186 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $124,713. 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 | 23 | $87,110 |
| Level II — qualified | 63 | $105,352 |
| Level III — experienced | 62 | $131,818 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 34 | $150,005 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporation | Mechanical Engineering | 28 | $167,008 |
| PACCAR Inc | OBD Calibration Engineer | 21 | $110,600 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Opto Mechanical Engineer | 8 | $202,797 |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | Post Doctorate Research Associate (Mechanical Engineer) | 6 | $104,087 |
| B/E Aerospace, Inc. | Senior Engineer, Mechanical Engineering | 5 | $123,594 |
| magniX USA, Inc. | Senior Program Manager | 5 | $170,000 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Cloud HDE III | 4 | $127,962 |
| AMD Design LLC | MTS Hardware Development Eng. | 4 | $123,594 |
| Simerics, Inc. | Project Engineer | 4 | $105,000 |
| Apple Inc. | System Product Design Engineer | 3 | $163,300 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Mechanical Engineer at Battelle Memorial Institute$99,608RichlandWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-730591
- Cloud HDE III at Amazon.com Services LLC$168,480SeattleWage Level IVDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-717619
- Industry Process Consultant at Dassault Systemes Americas Corp$107,240BellevueWage Level IIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707633
- Field Application Engineer at LTI Holdings, Inc.$140,000CarnationWage Level IIIDecided Mar 20, 2026I-200-26072-701250
- Principal Engineer, Structural Engineering at B/E Aerospace, Inc.$141,835EverettWage Level IVDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-697941
- Project Manager at Tigo Energy Mergeco, Inc. (fka Tigo Energy, Inc.)$132,720EverettWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26063-678158
- Senior Customer Quality Engineer at Impinj, Inc.$127,546SeattleWage Level IIIDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-674791
- Cloud HDE III at Amazon.com Services LLC$123,594SeattleWage Level IIIDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-668567
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 Washington
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 Washington
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 91 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $119,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | Arup US, Inc. | 17 | $119,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Microsoft Corporation | 15 | $163,670 |
| Senior Engineer, Mechanical Engineering | B/E Aerospace, Inc. | 11 | $126,000 |
| Technical Program Management | Microsoft Corporation | 11 | $172,784 |
| Project Engineer | Simerics, Inc. | 10 | $105,000 |
| Design Engineer | Consolidated Metco, Inc. | 8 | $103,658 |
| Post Doctorate Research Associate (Mechanical Engineer) | Battelle Memorial Institute | 4 | $104,087 |
| Opto Mechanical Engineer | Meta Platforms, Inc | 3 | $195,608 |
| MTS Hardware Development Eng. | AMD Design LLC | 3 | $123,594 |
| Mechanical Designer | Casper Phillips & Associates, Inc. PC | 3 | $80,000 |
| Senior Systems Engineer | General Motors | 3 | $138,840 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | PACCAR Inc | 3 | $99,112 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 184 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $123,594.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | PACCAR Inc | 73 | $123,594 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 64 | $152,995 |
| Professional services | Battelle Memorial Institute | 39 | $115,050 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 6 | $119,277 |
| Education | University of Washington | 1 | $81,504 |
| Real estate | CimpleSpaces LLC | 1 | $87,110 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington 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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Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$126,590
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Washington is $110,430.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Washington median is +2.6% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,400 and the 90th-percentile at $167,680, 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.