Mechanical Engineer
M-32M Other Engineering jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 17-2141.00
- this level
H-1B filings, n = 157, TX+AZ, 2026 - $99.2k
- work over
40 h a week - 45%
- load index
from O*NET data - 1.8/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +18.6%
Pay
This level's pay (published records that name this rung)
LCA filings with this job title H-1B filings, n = 157, TX+AZ, 2026
$99,206 a year median base offer in 157 H-1B LCA filings with this job title (TX+AZ, FY2026) Source
Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed.
All pay records and context (4)
- H-1B filings, n = 157, TX+AZ, 157 filings, 2026: $99,206 a year (median of 157 H-1B filings), SOC 17-2141 and job title contains every word of 'Mechanical Engineer' and no seniority word, TX+AZ, effective 2026-06-30 source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $83,000 · Level II $106,850 · Level III $132,100 · Level IV $158,468 (456 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $84,200 · Level II $100,750 · Level III $106,974 · Level IV $131,590 (218 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Engineer I $61,184 to $99,658 · Engineer II $65,104 to $106,634 · Engineer III $69,572 to $114,099 · Engineer IV $76,530 to $129,430 · Engineer V $84,182 to $142,374 · Engineer VI $92,600 to $156,612 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: all Mechanical Engineers, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017214113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 22,080 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017214101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017214113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 22,080 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017214101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Mechanical Engineers, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +18.6% jobs · about 1,350 openings a year (18,240 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +9.0% jobs · about 18,100 openings a year (293,100 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2024, n = 28 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2024, n = 28 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 93% · irregular 1% · seasonal 5%
Physical load 1.8 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.88, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.76, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.88, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.76, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing2.4
- Walking or running2.24
- Kneeling or crawling1.87
- Bending or twisting1.71
- Climbing ladders1.63
- Keeping balance1.44
Exposure
- Hazardous equipment2.01
- Outdoors, all weather1.96
- Very hot or cold1.83
- Cramped space1.79
- High places1.76
- Hazardous conditions1.75
- Protective gear1.23
Getting in
- License
- Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
- Degree
- 53% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
- Experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years of related experience is the most common answer (25% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Mechanical Engineers, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- M Mechatronics Engineer O*NET lists Mechatronics Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.93.
- I1 Facilities Engineer (Electrical) O*NET lists Electrical Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.90.
- M Industrial Engineer O*NET lists Industrial Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.90.
- I Mechanical Engineering Technician O*NET lists Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
- Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Mathematics
- Science
- Active Learning
Sources (5)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000017214113, read 2026-10-03
- LCA filings with this job title: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data FY2026 Q3, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 17-2141.00 Mechanical Engineers, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
