Mechanical Research Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Mechanical Research Engineer in the United States is $94,880 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,940
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,720 to $104,857
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,381
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View as table View as graph 25% $85,720 10% $77,381 90% $113,940 75% $104,857 $94,880 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mechanical Research Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,857 $8,738 $2,016 $50
Average $94,880 $7,907 $1,825 $46
25th Percentile $85,720 $7,143 $1,648 $41
Check out Mechanical Research Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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STAFF ROTATING PARTS MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER

GE Aviation - Evendale, OH

STAFF MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER GE AEROSPACE

GE Aviation - West Chester, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Research Engineer Salaries

A Mechanical Research 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 Research Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Research 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): $74,699
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,748
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,847
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,947
  • Expert (over 8 years): $168,630
Levels Salary
Cost Esti... Level Mechanical Research Engineer$74,699
Mechanica... Level Mechanical Research Engineer$95,748
Cost Esti... Level Mechanical Research Engineer$107,847
Cost Esti... Level Mechanical Research Engineer$142,947
Cost Esti... Level Mechanical Research Engineer$168,630
$74,699 0 yr
$95,748 < 2 yrs
$107,847 2-4 yrs
$142,947 5-8 yrs
$168,630 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Mechanical Research 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 Research Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $105,051.
  • California: $104,653.
  • Massachusetts: $103,258.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Research 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: $119,672
  • San Francisco: $118,496
  • Oakland: $115,867

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 5.38% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Quotations (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): A quotation is the repetition of a sentence, phrase, or passage from speech or text that someone has said or written. In oral speech, it is the representation of an utterance that is introduced by a quotative marker, such as a verb of saying.
  • HVAC (Mentioned in 1.11% Job Postings): Designing, developing, maintaining, and updating Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Cooling system.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 5.38%
Quotations 2.06%
HVAC 1.11%
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 Research Engineer's salary.
  • Quotations: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Civil Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Quotations
 $96,777
2%
Analysis
 $96,777
2%
Civil Engineering
 $96,777
2%
Presentation
 $95,829
1%
Scheduling
 $95,829
1%
Collaboration
 $95,829
1%
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Mechanical Research Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Research 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 18, 2021
$85,720
Average $94,880/year
$104,857
$7,143
Average $7,907/month
$8,738
$1,648
Average $1,825/week
$2,016
$41
Average $46/hour
$50
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $104,857 $8,738 $2,016 $50
Average $94,880 $7,907 $1,825 $46
25th Percentile $85,720 $7,143 $1,648 $41

Salaries of jobs related to Mechanical Research Engineer

Salary Trends for Mechanical Research Engineer

Salaries for a Mechanical Research Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,752 in 2023 to around $81,611 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Research Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Mechanical Research Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,752
2024
$81,893
2025
$81,611
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,752
2024 $81,893
2025 $81,611
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Mechanical Research Engineer

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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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