As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Mechanical Engineer V in the United States is $71, which translates to an annual salary of about $148,543.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Mechanical Engineer V Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $155,923 | $12,994 | $2,999 | $75 |
| Average | $148,543 | $12,379 | $2,857 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $141,113 | $11,759 | $2,714 | $68 |
A Mechanical Engineer V's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Engineer V's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer III | 4-7 years | $108,341 |
| Mechanical Engineer IV | 7+ years | $129,094 |
| Mechanical Engineer V | 7-10 years | $148,543 |
| Mechanical Engineer VI | 10-12 years | $188,989 |
| Mechanical Engineering Supervisor | 12+ years | $101,569 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 11.3% |
| Design Engineering | 2.34% |
| Procurement | 1.8% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Mechanical Engineer V's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning | $166,368 | |
| Flexibility | $158,941 | |
| Decision Making | $157,456 |
Mechanical Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $166,285. While startup companies pay approximate $140,673.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $140,673 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $148,779 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $160,578 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $166,285 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Engineer V enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Mechanical Engineer V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $159,334 and $167,238.
| Typical Education for Mechanical Engineer V | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 0.1% |
| High School | 0.5% |
| Associates | 0.5% |
| Bachelors | 48.1% |
| Masters | 37.6% |
| Doctorate | 12.9% |
Understanding how a Mechanical Engineer V's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $155,923 | $12,994 | $2,999 | $75 |
| Average | $148,543 | $12,379 | $2,857 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $141,113 | $11,759 | $2,714 | $68 |
Salaries for a Mechanical Engineer V can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $141,106 in 2023 to around $129,592 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Engineer V salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $141,106 |
| 2024 | $136,201 |
| 2025 | $129,592 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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Designs, analyzes, and maintains mechanical components and systems to meet specified requirements and standards. Utilizes technical instruments to develop specifications for new parts, modifications, or prototypes. Identifies appropriate materials and processes to ensure the quality, performance, and manufacturability of products. Utilizes CAD software and other design and modeling tools to plan, develop, and improve mechanical parts or components and communicate conceptual designs and specifications to stakeholders. Conducts prototype testing to evaluate the performance, reliability, and safety of mechanical systems and collects and analyzes data for improvements. Analyzes and troubleshoots mechanical issues or failures to identify root causes and develop solutions. Requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ 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.
Design Engineering: Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
Procurement: Procurement is the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process. Procurement is used to ensure the buyer receives goods, services, or works at the best possible price when aspects such as quality, quantity, time, and location are compared. Corporations and public bodies often define processes intended to promote fair and open competition for their business while minimizing risks such as exposure to fraud and collusion. Almost all purchasing decisions include factors such as delivery and handling, marginal benefit, and price fluctuations. Procurement generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity. If sound data is available, it is good practice to make use of economic analysis methods such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-utility analysis.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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