Mechanical Applications Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Applications Engineer in the United States is $91,457 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,037
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,035 to $99,089
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,636

Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Applications Engineer Salaries

A Mechanical Applications 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 Mechanical Applications Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Applications 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): $81,332
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,250
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,328
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,816
  • Expert (over 8 years): $164,951
Levels Salary
Product D... Level Mechanical Applications Engineer$81,332
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Applications Engineer$92,250
Product D... Level Mechanical Applications Engineer$115,328
Product D... Level Mechanical Applications Engineer$140,816
Product D... Level Mechanical Applications Engineer$164,951

How Do Mechanical Applications 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 Mechanical Applications Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $101,261.
  • California: $100,877.
  • Massachusetts: $99,532.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Applications 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: $115,354
  • San Francisco: $114,091
  • Oakland: $111,687

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Applications Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 4.33% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 2.55% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Design Thinking (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Developing software solutions to understand and target customer needs in a repetitive process.
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 4.33%
Agile 2.55%
Design Thinking 1.75%

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 Applications Engineer's salary.

  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Product Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Information Architecture: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Storytelling $99,688
9%
Product Strategy $99,688
9%
Information Architecture $99,688
9%

Mechanical Applications Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mechanical Applications Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Hospitality & Leisure and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Mechanical Applications Engineer positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mechanical Applications Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mechanical Applications Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$128,039$62.040%
Construction$118,894$57.030%
Internet$114,321$55.025%
Aerospace & Defense$109,748$53.020%
MFG Durable$105,175$51.015%

How Education impacts a Mechanical Applications Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Applications 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 Mechanical Applications Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $88,377 and $92,682).

Mechanical Applications Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Applications Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 4.4%
Associates 7.7%
Bachelors 51.7%
Masters 31.5%
Doctorate 4.4%

Mechanical Applications Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Applications 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 October 01, 2026
$80,035
Average $91,457/year
$99,089
$6,670
Average $7,621/month
$8,257
$1,539
Average $1,759/week
$1,906
$38
Average $44/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $99,089 $8,257 $1,906 $48
Average $91,457 $7,621 $1,759 $44
25th Percentile $80,035 $6,670 $1,539 $38

Most common benefits for Mechanical Applications Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Mechanical Applications Engineer

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

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FAQ about Mechanical Applications Engineer

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

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Mechanical Applications Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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