Mechanical Engineer.
Manchester.
$112,000
median salary, 10% above the national average
$90,000 to $143,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in Manchester is $112,000, 10% above the national average. Entry level starts near $90,000. Experienced professionals push past $143,000. Manchester is New Hampshire's largest city and a growing satellite hub for Boston's tech economy. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Mechanical Engineer in Manchester, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $108,360 for Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan area, based on 1,080 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$76,600
25th percentile
$90,060
Median
$108,360
75th percentile
$132,030
90th percentile
$167,350
Workers surveyed
1,080
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) rather than Mechanical Engineer specifically. The Manchesterrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2141Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $101,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$73,000
to $90,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$95,000
to $118,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$123,000
to $146,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$140,000
to $174,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $24,000 to the total package.
Base
$112,000
Equity
$13,000
Bonus
$9,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $136,000
How Manchester compares.
Manchester, NH
$112,000
Cost of living: 6% above average
National Average
$102,000
Manchester is $10,000 above
Mechanical Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Manchester.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Mechanical Engineer offer in Manchester, understand the terrain. Manchester is New Hampshire's largest city and a growing satellite hub for Boston's tech economy. The lack of state income tax and sales tax makes it highly attractive for professionals who commute to or work remotely for Boston area employers. Defense, healthcare, and small tech firms anchor the local economy. Industry placement creates the widest pay gaps, with automotive, aerospace, and energy sector roles paying 15 to 30% more than HVAC or consumer products. CAD/CAE proficiency, FEA simulation skills, and experience with additive manufacturing or robotics integration command premiums in the current market.
Entry-level mechanical engineers start at $70,000 to $82,000. Senior engineers earn $90,000 to $118,000 after five to seven years. Engineering managers reach $120,000 to $155,000, with directors at large manufacturers earning $160,000 to $200,000. In Manchester, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Manufacturing firms offer bonuses of 5 to 12% tied to project milestones and cost savings. Automotive OEMs include profit-sharing of $3,000 to $12,000 annually. Many employers provide PE exam support and professional society membership fees. And on the tax side: new Hampshire has no state income tax on wages and no sales tax. Manchester has no city income tax. This makes it one of the lowest taxed metros in the Northeast. When someone quotes you $112,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage to negotiate. Many professionals live in Manchester and work remotely for Boston companies, keeping the higher salary with zero state tax. The range for Mechanical Engineers in Manchester runs from $90,000 to $143,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
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Common questions.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other cities.
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