Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior in the United States is $81,029 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $94,743
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,315 to $88,208
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $72,023
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View as table View as graph 25% $76,315 10% $72,023 90% $94,743 75% $88,208 $81,029 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $88,208 $7,351 $1,696 $42
Average $81,029 $6,752 $1,558 $39
25th Percentile $76,315 $6,360 $1,468 $37
Check out Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Job Openings in the United States
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Specialist, Mechanical Engineer Design with Security Clearance

L3Harris Technologies - HUNTSVILLE, AL

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Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Salaries

A Mechanical Design Engineer Senior'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.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Design Engineer Seniors

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: $102,202
  • San Francisco: $101,198
  • Oakland: $98,953

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.69% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Mechanical Systems (Mentioned in 2.85% Job Postings): Using mechanical principles to complete tasks by utilizing physical components.
  • System Design (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Systems design is the process of defining elements of a system like modules, architecture, components and their interfaces and data for a system based on the specified requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.69%
Mechanical Systems 2.85%
System Design 1.86%
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 a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior's salary.
  • System Design: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Plumbing: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Mechanical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
System Design
 $90,753
12%
Plumbing
 $90,753
12%
Mechanical Engineering
 $89,943
11%
HVAC
 $88,322
9%
Project Design
 $87,512
8%
Computer Aided Design
 $85,891
6%
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How Education impacts a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Design Engineer Seniors 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 a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior with a Associate's Degree is between $75,504 and $81,911).

Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Design Engineer Senior
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 25.4%
Associates 42.6%
Bachelors 25.4%
Masters 4.9%
Doctorate 0.8%
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Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior'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
$76,315
Average $81,029/year
$88,208
$6,360
Average $6,752/month
$7,351
$1,468
Average $1,558/week
$1,696
$37
Average $39/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $88,208 $7,351 $1,696 $42
Average $81,029 $6,752 $1,558 $39
25th Percentile $76,315 $6,360 $1,468 $37

Salaries of jobs related to Mechanical Design Engineer Senior

Salary Trends for Mechanical Design Engineer Senior

Salaries for a Mechanical Design Engineer Senior can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $59,299 in 2023 to around $58,756 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Design Engineer Senior salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Mechanical Design Engineer Senior Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$59,299
2024
$59,493
2025
$58,756
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $59,299
2024 $59,493
2025 $58,756
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Mechanical Design Engineer Senior

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Mechanical Design Engineer Senior

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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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