Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer in the United States is $80,692 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,535
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,110 to $86,891
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,028
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View as table View as graph 25% $75,110 10% $70,028 90% $92,535 75% $86,891 $80,692 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $86,891 $7,241 $1,671 $42
Average $80,692 $6,724 $1,552 $39
25th Percentile $75,110 $6,259 $1,444 $36
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Key Factors That Influence Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Salaries

An Entry Level Mechanical Engineer'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.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,855
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,521
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,557
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $132,925
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,015
Levels Salary
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Mechanical Engineer$81,855
Mechanica... Level Entry Level Mechanical Engineer$96,521
Mechanica... Level Entry Level Mechanical Engineer$111,557
Mechanica... Level Entry Level Mechanical Engineer$132,925
Mechanica... Level Entry Level Mechanical Engineer$153,015
$81,855 0 yr
$96,521 < 2 yrs
$111,557 2-4 yrs
$132,925 5-8 yrs
$153,015 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Entry Level Mechanical Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $101,777
  • San Francisco: $100,777
  • Oakland: $98,541

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.4% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.53% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.4%
Hydraulics 2.53%
Installation 1.76%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
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 an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer's salary.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Algorithms: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Vision
 $87,955
9%
Algorithms
 $87,148
8%
Artificial Intelligence
 $87,148
8%
Machine Learning
 $86,341
7%
Packaging
 $85,534
6%
3D CAD
 $85,534
6%
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How Education impacts an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Level Mechanical Engineers enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Entry Level Mechanical Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $75,071 and $78,478).

Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Level Mechanical Engineer
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%
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Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on February 01, 2026
$75,110
Average $80,692/year
$86,891
$6,259
Average $6,724/month
$7,241
$1,444
Average $1,552/week
$1,671
$36
Average $39/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $86,891 $7,241 $1,671 $42
Average $80,692 $6,724 $1,552 $39
25th Percentile $75,110 $6,259 $1,444 $36

Salaries of jobs related to Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

Salary Trends for Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

Salaries for an Entry Level Mechanical Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $85,948 in 2023 to around $80,996 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Entry Level Mechanical Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$85,948
2024
$82,663
2025
$80,996
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $85,948
2024 $82,663
2025 $80,996
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Entry Level Mechanical Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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