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General Engineering Mechanics

Types of Degrees General Engineering Mechanics Majors Are Earning

Those studying General Engineering Mechanics can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	4
Bachelor’s Degree	67
Master’s Degree	66
Doctor’s Degree	53

What General Engineering Mechanics Majors Need to Know

Programs in General Engineering Mechanics build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that General Engineering Mechanics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing General Engineering Mechanics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a General Engineering Mechanics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to General Engineering Mechanics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, General Engineering Mechanics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by General Engineering Mechanics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for General Engineering Mechanics graduates include:

• Engineer
• Chemical Engineering Professor
• Technical Professor
• Marine Engineering Professor
• Metallography Teacher
• Metallurgical Engineering Teacher
• Marine Engineering Teacher
• Instructor
• Highway Engineering Teacher
• Civil Engineering Teacher
• Aeronautical Engineering Professor
• Electronics Engineering Professor
• Associate Professor
• Electronics Teacher
• Electrical Engineering Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to General Engineering Mechanics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	34.0%
Doctoral degree	27.0%
Master’s degree	13.0%
Post-doctoral training	7.0%
Post-master’s certificate	6.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.1%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.0%
Postsecondary certificate	2.4%
Some college courses	1.6%
First professional degree	1.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.6%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in General Engineering Mechanics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 83.7% of General Engineering Mechanics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	31	16.3%
Men	159	83.7%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of General Engineering Mechanics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	98	51.6%
Asian	9	4.7%
Hispanic or Latino	7	3.7%
Black or African American	2	1.1%
Two or More Races	3	1.6%
Race Unknown	9	4.7%
International Students	62	32.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do General Engineering Mechanics Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of General Engineering Mechanics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$76,585
4 years	$84,662
5 years	$95,412

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $95,412 — roughly 25% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in General Engineering Mechanics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, General Engineering Mechanics graduates earn a median of $84,662 four years after completion — roughly 123% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Engineering Mechanics	14.11
Electromechanical Engineering	14.4101
Architectural Engineering	14.0401
Biochemical Engineering	14.4301
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	14.4501
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering	14.0702
Construction Engineering	14.3301
Electrical and Computer Engineering	14.4701
Energy Systems Engineering, General	14.4801
Energy Systems Engineering, Other	14.4899
Engineering Chemistry	14.4401

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.