Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Mechanical Design Engineer in the United States is $91,505 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $104,162
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,665 to $98,130
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,527
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View as table View as graph 25% $83,665 10% $76,527 90% $104,162 75% $98,130 $91,505 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $98,130 $8,178 $1,887 $47
Average $91,505 $7,625 $1,760 $44
25th Percentile $83,665 $6,972 $1,609 $40
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Key Factors That Influence Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salaries

A Junior Mechanical Design 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 Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior Mechanical Design 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): $78,061
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,049
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,380
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,757
  • Expert (over 8 years): $145,854
Levels Salary
Mechanica... Level Junior Mechanical Design Engineer$78,061
Junior Me... Level Junior Mechanical Design Engineer$92,049
Mechanica... Level Junior Mechanical Design Engineer$106,380
Mechanica... Level Junior Mechanical Design Engineer$126,757
Mechanica... Level Junior Mechanical Design Engineer$145,854
$78,061 0 yr
$92,049 < 2 yrs
$106,380 2-4 yrs
$126,757 5-8 yrs
$145,854 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Junior Mechanical Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $101,314.
  • California: $100,930.
  • Massachusetts: $99,585.

Top Paying Cities for Junior Mechanical Design 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: $115,415
  • San Francisco: $114,151
  • Oakland: $111,746

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.92% 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 2.59% 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 1.81% 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 8.92%
Hydraulics 2.59%
Installation 1.81%
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 Junior Mechanical Design Engineer's salary.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • 3D CAD: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Salesforce
$103,400
13%
Presentation
$96,080
5%
3D CAD
$96,080
5%
System Design
$95,165
4%
Consulting
$95,165
4%
Analysis
$95,165
4%
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Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Junior Mechanical Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Junior Mechanical Design Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Junior Mechanical Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Junior Mechanical Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$114,381$55.025%
Aerospace & Defense$109,806$53.020%
Pharmaceuticals$109,806$53.020%
Software & Networking$109,806$53.020%
Internet$105,231$51.015%

How Education impacts a Junior Mechanical Design Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Junior Mechanical Design Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Junior Mechanical Design Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $93,495 and $98,409).

Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Mechanical Design Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 0.3%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 55.8%
Masters 39.6%
Doctorate 3.4%
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Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Junior Mechanical Design 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Junior Mechanical Design Engineer

Salaries for a Junior Mechanical Design Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $99,808 in 2023 to around $91,603 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Junior Mechanical Design Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$99,808
2024
$96,034
2025
$91,603
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $99,808
2024 $96,034
2025 $91,603
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Junior Mechanical Design Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Junior Mechanical Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

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    Columbus, OH

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    5 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

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    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    21 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

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    26 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    26 Days Ago

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FAQ about Junior Mechanical Design Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Junior Mechanical Design Engineer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Junior Mechanical Design Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

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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