Mechanical Engineers: Career Overview
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.
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The Daily Work of Mechanical Engineers Take On?
Typical responsibilities of mechanical engineers span:
- 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.
- Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
- Provide technical customer service.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful mechanical engineers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer)
- Application Engineer
- Automation Engineer
- Body Engineer
- Brake Engineer
- Car Designer
- Combustion Engineer
- Cooling and Heating Systems Design Engineer
How Many Mechanical Engineers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 88,587 mechanical engineers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +7.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Mechanical Engineers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $79,543 |
| Hourly median | $38.24 |
| 10th percentile | $45,691 |
| 25th percentile | $62,617 |
| 75th percentile | $96,469 |
| 90th percentile | $113,396 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Mechanical Engineers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $141,490 |
| District of Columbia | $130,000 |
| Alaska | $129,990 |
| California | $126,370 |
| Massachusetts | $122,670 |
| Wyoming | $116,910 |
| Rhode Island | $115,270 |
| Louisiana | $114,050 |
| Maryland | $111,740 |
| Washington | $109,370 |
| Texas | $108,240 |
| Colorado | $108,060 |
| New Jersey | $107,020 |
| Connecticut | $106,600 |
| Delaware | $106,020 |
| South Carolina | $105,360 |
| New York | $105,130 |
| New Hampshire | $103,890 |
| Idaho | $103,660 |
| Michigan | $102,730 |
| Arizona | $102,510 |
| Maine | $101,500 |
| Oregon | $101,290 |
| North Carolina | $100,990 |
| West Virginia | $100,610 |
| Vermont | $100,520 |
| Illinois | $99,730 |
| Kentucky | $99,410 |
| Virginia | $99,350 |
| Tennessee | $99,330 |
| Montana | $99,250 |
| Indiana | $99,200 |
| Utah | $99,050 |
| Minnesota | $98,980 |
| Nevada | $98,110 |
| Iowa | $97,570 |
| Alabama | $97,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 |
| Florida | $97,190 |
| Georgia | $96,820 |
| Ohio | $96,330 |
| Hawaii | $95,250 |
| Wisconsin | $94,820 |
| Missouri | $91,890 |
| Kansas | $91,770 |
| Mississippi | $90,730 |
| South Dakota | $90,590 |
| Oklahoma | $90,510 |
| North Dakota | $84,020 |
| Nebraska | $82,510 |
| Arkansas | $78,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $62,520 |
| Guam | $60,700 |
Where Mechanical Engineers Earn the Most
Compensation for mechanical engineers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $119,653 | 14.5% | 0.93 |
| New England | $113,963 | 7.1% | 1.52 |
| Southwest | $107,712 | 9.8% | 0.78 |
| Rocky Mountains | $104,904 | 4.3% | 1.12 |
| Middle Atlantic | $103,845 | 12.1% | 0.96 |
| Great Lakes | $99,669 | 26.2% | 2.45 |
| Southeast | $99,253 | 18.7% | 0.87 |
| Plains States | $94,360 | 7.2% | 1.15 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Mechanical Engineers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $147,730 | 3,910 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $145,640 | 4,670 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $141,420 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $132,850 | 480 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $129,990 | 400 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $129,190 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $128,660 | 3,320 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $126,870 | 7,010 |
Which Industries Hire Mechanical Engineers
Most mechanical engineers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 127,220 | $99,990 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 89,470 | $106,190 |
| Wholesale Trade | 18,910 | $98,380 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 11,080 | $108,040 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 8,330 | $94,330 |
| Construction | 5,680 | $97,790 |
| Utilities | 1,710 | $130,420 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,710 | $98,770 |
Below are examples of industries where mechanical engineers work:
Software Mechanical Engineers Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Configuration management software: Chef (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for mechanical engineers reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Mechanical Engineers
Most mechanical engineers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Electrical Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Manufacturing Engineers (Supplemental)
- Fuel Cell Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring mechanical engineers commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering
3 programs across 3 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2141.00 (Mechanical Engineers).
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