Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia earned a median of $100,610 in 2024, about 4% below the US median of $104,651. That gap is smaller than you might expect for a state with West Virginia's cost of living, and it closes further once you account for what the money actually buys.
West Virginia's cost-of-living index sits at 87.5, meaning prices run roughly 12.5% below the national baseline. In purchasing terms, that $100,610 median stretches closer to $115,000 in national-dollar terms. On that basis, Mechanical Engineers here come out ahead of most of their peers elsewhere in the country.
The pay range tells a more varied story. The bottom 10% earned around $62,350 in 2024, while the top 10% reached $136,930. That puts the highest earners at a little over twice what the lowest earners took home, a spread wide enough to suggest that experience, specialty, and the specific industry hiring you matter quite a bit here. The middle of the range is tight: the 25th percentile was $82,720 and the 75th was $112,690, with the median and mean within $200 of each other. That closeness tells us the distribution is unusually even, without a strong pull from outliers at either end.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. West Virginia's total employment for this occupation is small at 860 workers, so even modest hiring counts can shift the numbers noticeably from year to year. We will update these figures when BLS publishes revised OES data.
Salary distribution
Where West Virginia mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,910 and $118,490, with a median of $97,390.
Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 14 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,688. 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 | $75,858 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $93,572 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $100,688 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $146,449 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRIFUGAL SERVICES LLC | Application Technician | 2 | $108,750 |
| Form Energy, Inc. | Manager, Mechanical Engineering | 2 | $160,724 |
| Leidos, Inc. | Multiphase Computational Development Engineer | 2 | $104,438 |
| STROM AVIATION INC | AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEER | 2 | $75,858 |
| Caresoft Global Technologies Inc | Project Manager | 1 | $95,000 |
| Form Factory 1, LLC | Mechanical Design Engineer | 1 | $95,000 |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | Mechanical Engineer | 1 | $92,144 |
| Roxul USA, Inc. | Project Director | 1 | $172,224 |
| The Thrasher Group, Inc. | Mechanical Engineer | 1 | $76,003 |
| TREPLAR INC | MECHANICAL ENGINEER | 1 | $122,512 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Multiphase Computational Development Engineer at Leidos, Inc.$103,875MorgantownWage Level IIIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-688716
- Manager, Engineering Sales Applications at CENTRIFUGAL SERVICES LLC$120,000PrincetonWage Level IVDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-669162
- Mechanical Engineer at L&T Technology Services Limited$92,144InwoodWage Level IIDecided Feb 20, 2026I-200-26043-635750
- AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEER at STROM AVIATION INC$75,858BRIDGEPORTWage Level IDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-459095
- AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEER at STROM AVIATION INC$75,858BRIDGEPORTWage Level IDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-417620
- Mechanical Engineer at The Thrasher Group, Inc.$76,003CharlestownWage Level IDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-328111
- Research Scientist at Leidos, Inc.$105,000MorgantownWage Level IIIDecided Jul 21, 2025I-200-25195-173819
- Senior Mechanical Engineer at Form Energy, Inc.$146,449WeirtonWage Level IVDecided Jun 12, 2025I-200-25156-055866
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 West Virginia
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 West Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $122,512.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | CENTRIFUGAL SERVICES LLC | 7 | $122,512 |
| Professional services | Leidos, Inc. | 5 | $95,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | STROM AVIATION INC | 2 | $75,858 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in West Virginia 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia is $97,390.
- How does West Virginia compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The West Virginia median is -9.5% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in West Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,640 and the 90th-percentile at $143,030, 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.