Average H1B mechanical engineer salary is $112,000. Semiconductor and robotics MEs reach $142K–$148K. SpaceX, Tesla, Apple hardware lead the top tier. 62% of filings at Level III–IV. Based on 44,800 LCA filings.
The average H1B mechanical engineer salary is $112,000 per year, with a median of $105,000. The key driver of ME salary variance is industry sector: semiconductor and robotics companies pay $142K–$148K vs. $98K–$108K for traditional consumer products. The EV revolution has created a new high-wage tier for automotive MEs at Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.
| Percentile | Annual Wage | DOL Level | Lottery Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 (Entry) | $72,000 | Level I | 15% |
| P25 | $88,000 | Level II | 28% |
| P50 (Median) | $105,000 | Level III | 45% |
| P75 | $138,000 | Level IV | 61% |
| P90 (Top) | $168,000 | Level IV | 61% |
California ($138K) leads, 23.2% above national, due to aerospace, semiconductor, and EV concentration. Washington ($128K) benefits from Boeing and aerospace supply chain. Michigan ($108K) is 3.6% below national despite high filing volume. Florida ($98K) is the lowest among major states.
| City / Metro | Avg Salary | LCA Filings |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area, CA | $148,000 | 4,800 |
| Los Angeles / Aerospace, CA | $138,000 | 3,900 |
| Seattle, WA | $135,000 | 3,200 |
| Detroit Metro, MI | $112,000 | 4,600 |
| Houston, TX | $122,000 | 3,400 |
| Boston, MA | $128,000 | 2,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $112,000 | 2,200 |
| Chicago, IL | $108,000 | 1,900 |
| Denver, CO | $120,000 | 1,700 |
| Huntsville, AL (Defense) | $118,000 | 1,500 |
62% of H1B ME filings are at Level III or IV. Semiconductor, EV, and aerospace employers file predominantly at Level III–IV. Consumer products and traditional auto are often Level I–II. Targeting tech-adjacent ME roles dramatically improves lottery odds.
| Employer | LCA Filings | Avg Wage | % Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing | 3,200 | $128,000 | 38% |
| Lockheed Martin | 2,800 | $132,000 | 42% |
| Raytheon / RTX | 2,400 | $126,000 | 36% |
| SpaceX | 1,800 | $148,000 | 52% |
| Tesla | 2,200 | $138,000 | 46% |
| General Motors | 1,600 | $115,000 | 32% |
| Ford Motor | 1,400 | $112,000 | 30% |
| Apple | 1,200 | $155,000 | 58% |
| ExxonMobil / Chevron | 1,100 | $122,000 | 36% |
| Caterpillar | 980 | $108,000 | 28% |
ME H1B filings grew 45% from FY2020 to FY2024. Average wages rose 21.7%, from $92K to $112K. EV and semiconductor boom drove the biggest wage growth post-FY2022.
| Industry Sector | Avg H1B Wage | % Level IV | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace / Defense | $132,000 | 42% | High |
| Electric Vehicles / Auto | $138,000 | 46% | Very High |
| Semiconductor / Hardware | $148,000 | 54% | High |
| Robotics / Automation | $142,000 | 50% | Very High |
| Oil & Gas / Energy | $122,000 | 36% | Moderate |
| Medical Devices | $128,000 | 40% | High |
| Traditional Auto (Detroit) | $112,000 | 30% | Moderate |
| Consumer Products / HVAC | $98,000 | 22% | Moderate |
Browse ME positions in aerospace, EV, semiconductor, and robotics, sectors with strong Level III–IV sponsorship.
H1BVisaJobs.com Research Team
Analysis based on 44,800 DOL LCA filings for mechanical engineer roles (FY2020–FY2024). Last updated: May 2026.