Mechanical Engineer Jobs in the USA: Salaries and Visa Routes

Mechanical engineering is one of the strongest engineering fields for moving to the United States. It carries a large number of vacancies at some of the world’s biggest companies and pay well above the national average. If you are looking for a well-paid field with a long runway and a reasonably clear immigration path, mechanical engineering is a sound choice. Automotive, aerospace, energy and robotics are all sectors that hire mechanical engineers in the USA in volume.

This article covers what you need to know about working conditions, the visa routes, salaries, the cost of a work-based move to the United States and the licences involved in moving to the USA.

Job outlook for mechanical engineers

Start with the outlook for mechanical engineer jobs in the USA.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady growth in mechanical engineering employment over the coming decade. The demand comes from technology, energy and manufacturing companies that need people who can design, analyse and optimise systems. Median pay in the field sits above most other technical occupations, and mechanical engineering appears on the shortage lists that many US employers recruit against.

Skills employers ask for

To compete in the US market, expect to be tested on the following in interview:

• Design and analysis software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD and ANSYS
• Command of engineering design packages such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks and CATIA
• Finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and materials science
• Experience designing, building and testing mechanical parts
• Industry standards such as ASME and ISO
• MATLAB, Python or other engineering programming tools
• Work with CAD/CAM/CAE systems
• Project management software such as MS Project or Primavera
• Writing clear, presentable technical reports
• Presenting ideas verbally and in writing in technical meetings
• Project management and scheduling
• Breaking down complex technical problems and proposing solutions
• Optimising mechanical processes and systems
• Technical English and familiarity with US workplace culture

US immigration routes for mechanical engineers

Here are the main ways a mechanical engineer can move to the United States:

H-1B work visa

The most common legal route for a foreign engineer to work in the United States is the H-1B, a temporary visa for specialty occupations. To go through it you need:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a field related to the role
• Specialist skills the job genuinely requires
• Selection in the H-1B registration lottery, where the cap applies
• Documented work history
• A job offer from a US employer
• A petition filed by that employer within the published filing window

EB-3 immigrant visa

If your goal is a US green card, EB-3 is the category to look at. It is an employment-based immigrant visa for skilled workers and professionals, and it leads to permanent residence. You need a permanent job offer from a US employer, and the employer has to complete the PERM labour certification process with the Department of Labor before the petition can be filed.

EB-2 immigrant visa

EB-2 is also an immigrant category, not a temporary one. It is for professionals holding an advanced degree, or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive experience, and for people with exceptional ability in their field. It normally requires an employer and PERM labour certification, although a National Interest Waiver can remove the employer requirement for candidates whose work is judged to be in the national interest. Approved petitions lead to a green card once a visa number is available.

O-1 visa

The O-1 is another option for mechanical engineers. It is temporary and requires:

• A written job offer or contract with a US employer or agent
• Demonstrated extraordinary ability in the field
• International recognition
• Published research and recognised awards
• Membership of professional associations that require achievement

Its main advantages are a faster adjudication, legal work authorisation, the ability to bring family on O-3 visas, and renewal in one-year increments.

Mechanical engineer salaries in the USA

Average annual salary for mechanical engineers

What moves the number

Pay for mechanical engineer jobs in the USA depends on the state, on experience, on the skills you bring and on a few other factors:

• Salaries are higher in California, Texas and the Pacific Northwest
• More experience and a higher degree both raise the figure
• Aerospace, technology and clean energy pay above manufacturing averages

What an engineer spends to live in the USA

Why mechanical engineering works in the USA

Many students apply for a US student visa to study mechanical engineering, and a number of them look at staying once they graduate. Living in the United States as an engineer gives you access to large employers and global projects. Some of the reasons people choose it are below.

• The United States is among the highest-paying countries in the world for mechanical engineers.
• It has some of the most advanced engineering workplaces anywhere.
• Mechanical engineering is among the largest engineering occupations in the country.
• Pay sits above the median for US occupations overall.

Best US universities for mechanical engineering

If you are interested in studying in the United States rather than going straight into work, it is worth looking at the degree route. US work visas are legally complex and, in the case of the H-1B, subject to a lottery, so study is often the steadier way in.

If your grades are strong and you hold an academic TOEFL or IELTS score, these are among the best-known departments for mechanical engineering:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• University of California, Berkeley
• California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
• Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
• University of Michigan
• Purdue University, Indiana
• Cornell University, Ithaca
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

All of them run well-regarded graduate programmes in the field.

Working as a mechanical engineer in the USA

Given the salary levels, a US work visa is worth considering on its own terms, and a graduate degree in the United States is a common stepping stone towards one. The best-known American and multinational firms keep a steady stream of mechanical engineering roles open. Some of those companies and the positions they recruit for are below:

What you need to apply

Mechanical engineers heading to the United States, whether to study or to work, need to document their qualifications and in some cases sit exams. Depending on the route, expect to provide:

• A recognised bachelor’s degree or higher
• A credential evaluation showing your degree is equivalent to a US degree
• A signed job offer or employment contract
• An academic TOEFL or IELTS score, where you are applying to a university
• A CV and evidence of relevant experience
• FE and PE results, if the role requires a licensed engineer

Exams involved in US mechanical engineering

Which exams apply depends on what you are doing. Most engineering jobs in industry do not require a licence, but public-facing and safety-critical work does. The main exams are:

• The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, run by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), normally taken near the end of an engineering degree
• The Professional Engineer (PE) exam, the licensing exam for engineers who sign off work or offer services directly to the public
• The GRE, for admission to graduate mechanical engineering programmes at some US universities
• The SAT, used in undergraduate admissions to many US universities
• The ACT, an alternative to the SAT at undergraduate level

Legal points every mechanical engineer should know

Mechanical engineer jobs in the USA have a long horizon, but there are legal points worth understanding before you commit to a route.

The first is the visa itself. Mechanical engineers usually enter through the H-1B or EB-3. The H-1B is temporary, granted for three years and extendable to a total of six, and it requires a US employer to act as sponsor. EB-3 leads to permanent residence, and the process behind it is longer and more involved.

You are only permitted to work while your status is valid. If your visa has expired, or you have changed employer, the new employer must file a fresh petition before you start, and in some cases you will need to change status.

Anyone earning a salary in the United States needs to understand the tax system. Employees pay federal tax, state tax in most states, and in some cities a local tax on top.

The third point is state-level engineering licensure. Some states, California and Texas among them, require a Professional Engineer licence for particular categories of work. If you plan to work on public infrastructure or in a government role, that licence is required.

Finally, an immigration lawyer or a licensed adviser reduces the risk of filing errors, refusals and, at the extreme, bars on re-entry. A clear employment contract and a proper understanding of your rights and benefits are part of the same picture.

Applying for a US work visa with Aval Visa

Mechanical engineering is one of the better options for engineers with documented experience and a recognised degree. A wide choice of roles, high pay, the ability to bring your family and a realistic path to a green card are all part of the case for it.

If you are planning to study in the United States, or want to test whether a work route is realistic for your profile, our team at Aval Visa can work through it with you, from choosing the right route to preparing forms and documents, booking a US embassy appointment and running a mock interview. Contact our advisers for a step-by-step review of your case.

Frequently asked questions

1. Which sectors hire mechanical engineers in the United States?

Automation, capital equipment, robotics, electromechanical systems, building services and surveying-adjacent engineering roles are all common destinations.

2. Can mechanical engineering students in the USA work?

Yes. F-1 students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week during term, and full time during official breaks. Off-campus work requires authorisation through CPT or OPT.

3. How long does a work visa take?

H-1B petitions are typically adjudicated in three to six months, and premium processing shortens that considerably. EB-3 can take two years or more, and case volumes and per-country backlogs can extend it further.

4. What do skilled trades pay in the United States?

Pay in the skilled trades varies by specialism, skill level and state. Electricians, welders, CNC technicians, industrial mechanics, HVAC technicians, plumbers and maintenance technicians are among the better-paid trades. Many of these jobs do not require a degree, and people enter after a technical course and a recognised certification. Shortages in some states have pushed both hiring and pay upwards.

5. How do you get hired as a mechanical engineer at NASA?

A NASA role calls for a strong academic and technical record, a recognised degree and experience in areas such as mechanical design, structural analysis, space systems or robotics. Many NASA positions are restricted to US citizens, and contractor roles often require permanent residence or a security clearance. A research record, engineering project experience and command of SolidWorks, CATIA and ANSYS all help.