As of February 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Mechanical Design Engineer I in the United States is $79,460. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $68,150 to a high of $92,088, with most professionals earning between $73,540 and $86,070.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $86,070 | $7,173 | $1,655 | $41 |
| Average | $79,460 | $6,622 | $1,528 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,540 | $6,128 | $1,414 | $35 |
An entry-level Mechanical Design Engineer I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $78,223. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $78,660. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $79,831. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $80,612, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $80,807.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Mechanical Design Engineer I | $78,223 |
| Intermediate Level Mechanical Design Engineer I | $78,660 |
| Senior Level Mechanical Design Engineer I | $79,831 |
| Specialist Level Mechanical Design Engineer I | $80,612 |
| Expert Level Mechanical Design Engineer I | $80,807 |
| Entry Level | 2% |
| Mid Level | 1% |
| Senior Level | 0% |
| Top Level | 1% |
| Experienced | 2% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of February 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Mechanical Design Engineer I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $83,477 in 2023 to approximately $80,287 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Design Engineer I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Mechanical Design Engineer I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Mechanical Design Engineer I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Design Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $79,460 | 69.1% | ||
| Bonus | $1,570 | 1.4% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $6,199 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,403 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $1,621 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 7.3% | ||
| Pension | $4,376 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $9,973 | 8.7% | ||
| Total Compensation | $114,953 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.2% |
| High School | 1.2% |
| Associates | 2.3% |
| Bachelors | 68.5% |
| Masters | 25.1% |
| Doctorate | 2.8% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Mechanical Design Engineer I is $79,460. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Mechanical Design Engineer I is $38; the average weekly pay of Mechanical Design Engineer I is $1,528; the average monthly pay of Mechanical Design Engineer I is $6,622.
A Mechanical Design Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Mechanical Design Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Mechanical Design Engineer I is $99,720.
The highest pay for Mechanical Design Engineer I is $92,088.
The lowest pay for Mechanical Design Engineer I is $68,150.
The Mechanical Design Engineer I develops specifications for new parts or prototypes. Designs, develops, prototypes, and tests all aspects of mechanical components, equipment, and machinery. Being a Mechanical Design Engineer I uses CAD software and other design and modeling tools to develop and improve parts and products. Identifies appropriate materials and processes to ensure the quality, performance, and manufacturability of products. In addition, Mechanical Design Engineer I conducts analysis and tests to determine weaknesses and failures in prototypes or products. Requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Being a Mechanical Design Engineer I work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Working as a Mechanical Design Engineer I typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Hydraulics: Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
Transportation: Refers to the mode of travel used to get from home to work most frequently. The transportation are bus, train, aeroplane, ship, car, etc while the mode of transportation refers to road, air, sea/ocean, etc.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
