Mechanical Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical systems that produce, transmit, or use power. They may work in design, instrumentation, testing, robotics, transportation, or bioengineering, among other areas. The broadest of all engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering extends across many interdependent specialties. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations, maintenance, or technical sales, and many are administrators or managers. Approximately 312,900 mechanical engineers are ...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that engineers with a bachelor's degree earned average starting salaries of $69,180 in June 2019. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reports that mechanical engineers had median annual salaries of $87,370 in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $56,270 to $136,550 or more. The DOL reports the following mean earnings for mechanical e...
Work Environment
The working conditions of mechanical engineers vary. Most mechanical engineers work indoors in offices, research laboratories, or production departments of factories and shops. Depending on the job, however, a significant amount of work time may be spent on a noisy factory floor, at a construction site, or at another field operation. Mechanical engineers have traditionally designed systems on d...
Outlook
Employment for mechanical engineers is expected to grow by about 4 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Although overall employment in manufacturing is expected to decline, there will be good opportunities for engineers who help design and create transportation equipment (especially hybrid-electric, energy-effi...
