Mechanical Testing Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Testing Engineer in the United States is $82,978 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,915
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,187 to $92,890
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,273

Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Testing Engineer Salaries

A Mechanical Testing 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Mechanical Testing Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Testing 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): $82,026
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,658
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,160
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,637
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,433
Levels Salary
Entry Level Mechanical Testing Engineer$82,026
Intermediate Level Mechanical Testing Engineer$83,658
Senior Level Mechanical Testing Engineer$87,160
Specialist Level Mechanical Testing Engineer$87,637
Expert Level Mechanical Testing Engineer$88,433

How Do Mechanical Testing 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 Testing Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $91,873.
  • California: $91,524.
  • Massachusetts: $90,305.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Testing 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: $104,660
  • San Francisco: $103,514
  • Oakland: $101,332

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.3% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Schematic (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.3%
Microsoft Office 2.09%
Schematic 1.33%

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 Testing Engineer's salary.

  • Curriculum Design: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Group Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Curriculum Design $105,382
27%
Group Facilitation $90,446
9%
Project Management $89,616
8%

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

Understanding how a Mechanical Testing 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
$73,187
Average $82,978/year
$92,890
$6,099
Average $6,915/month
$7,741
$1,407
Average $1,596/week
$1,786
$35
Average $40/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $92,890 $7,741 $1,786 $45
Average $82,978 $6,915 $1,596 $40
25th Percentile $73,187 $6,099 $1,407 $35

Most common benefits for Mechanical Testing Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Mechanical Testing Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Testing 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.)

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