Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers research, design, manufacture, and test all kinds of mechanical things: tools, toys, roller coasters, vehicles, and other devices. They study materials, heat and energy transfer, manufacturing technologies, among other things to design machines and tools that will meet all the requirements for a particular job. They are in demand in almost every industry.

Education

Mechanical engineers need a bachelor's degree. Most have mechanical engineering degrees.

Job Outlook

Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 19,800 openings for mechanical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 

Lifestyle

Mechanical engineers work in all areas of manufacturing industries. They can work in production operations, maintenance, management, as well as research and development. Some provide engineering services as consultants in research, design, or testing of technologies. The environment and hours they work will vary with the job.

Skills 

You are a Mechanical Engineer, if you:

• Are good at analysis and logical problem solving 
• Like to work independently sometimes
• Like to learn new things 
• Are realistic about how to get things done
• Are good with mechanical things and spatial relationships 
• Can explain things so others will pay attention and understand them 

Salary

The median annual salary for an entry-level mechanical engineer $99,510.*

Examples

• Design “smart” toys for kids
• Develop cars that are more fuel efficient
• Produce hypoallergenic air conditioning for hospital operating rooms
• Create prosthetic hands that allow a person to type and write
• Build aerospace vehicles to trek across planets and moons, collecting samples

*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025