What Can You Do With a Mechanical Engineering Degree?
Mechanical engineering degrees include a rigorous curriculum rooted in STEM courses and project-based, collaborative learning, and engineers may be required to obtain state licensure to work in certain industries. Mechanical engineers earn annual salaries ranging from $60,000 to $65,000, with experienced engineers in management positions earning well over $100,000.
Top Industries for Mechanical Engineers
Aerospace and defense companies build planes, helicopters, rockets, satellites, and missiles, while the Federal Executive Branch hires mechanical engineers for projects like developing space probes.
Top Locations for Mechanical Engineering Jobs
The states with the most mechanical engineers are Michigan, California, and Texas, while New Mexico and the District of Columbia have the highest salaries for these professionals, with average annual salaries exceeding $110,000.
How to Start Your Career in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering programs introduce students to the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to succeed in the field, with a focus on practical experience and labs. Master’s programs in mechanical engineering include specialized coursework and research in topics such as aeronautics, CAD, and fluid mechanics.
How to Advance Your Career in Mechanical Engineering
Gaining additional education provides a straightforward path towards a more competitive resume, according to the American Society of Human Resources (ASR) and CareerBuilder. Take advantage of networking opportunities and actively participate in professional organizations to increase your chances of landing a job you want to pursue.
Licensure and Certifications for Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical engineers who provide services directly to the general public in the United States may be required to have a state license, which is only valid within the state in which it is issued. Professionals can also pursue voluntary certifications to improve their resumes and signal expertise.
Resources for Mechanical Engineering Majors
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers promotes mechanical engineering as an art, science, and practice by providing free and online continuing education resources, as well as establishing equipment and process standards and hosting research events on topics such as nuclear power and fluid engineering.
SAE International serves engineers and related technical experts in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. MIT offers an extensive catalog of online mechanical engineering classes. The Open Learning Initiative is dedicated to democratizing learning for teachers and students.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers work in a variety of fields, including manufacturing and aerospace, and are frequently employed in architecture, manufacturing, management, and research, according to the BLS. Architectural and engineering managers earned a median annual salary of $144,830 in 2019.
What kind of jobs can you get with mechanical engineering degree?
According to experts, these are some of the jobs where a mechanical engineering degree is useful.
- Business executive.
- Construction engineer.
- Entrepreneur.
- Intellectual property attorney.
- Manufacturing engineer.
Is Mechanical Engineering a good career?
Is mechanical engineering a good career choice? A mechanical engineering degree can lead to jobs in a variety of fields, including manufacturing and aerospace, which pay well.
Which job is best for mechanical engineer?
The following are the six highest-paying mechanical engineering jobs:
- Automation engineer.
- Research and development engineer.
- Senior mechanical engineer.
- Senior design engineer.
- Powertrain engineer.
- Instrumentation engineer.
Do mechanical engineers make a lot of money?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 303,440 working mechanical engineers in the United States earned a mean annual wage of $92,800 in May 2018, with the bottom 10% earning $56,270, or $27.05 per hour.
What engineer makes the most money?
The top ten most lucrative engineering jobs
- Petroleum engineers earn an average of $94,271 per year. Electrical engineers earn an average of $88,420 per year. Computer engineers earn an average of $86,086 per year. Aeronautical engineers. Chemical engineers. Materials engineers. Biomedical engineers. Nuclear engineers.
What’s the hardest type of engineering?
Electrical Engineering is number one.
- Electrical engineers specialize in the physics and mathematics of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. Students regard electrical engineering as the most difficult major due to the abstract thinking required.
Are mechanical engineers happy?
Mechanical engineers have a lower than average level of happiness, scoring 3.0 out of 5 stars, putting them in the bottom 33% of all occupations.
What are the disadvantages of being a mechanical engineer?
The disadvantages of pursuing a career as a mechanical engineer
- Lack of gender diversity in the field: According to Payscale, the gender imbalance in the field could be as high as 9:1.
- Shrinking job growth in certain specialties: Some manufacturing sectors of mechanical engineering may have limited job prospects for some specialties.
Is it hard to become a mechanical engineer?
Some people wonder if mechanical engineering is difficult. It is not, but it is challenging, which is what makes it so rewarding professionally. If mechanical engineering sounds like a career path worth walking down, UC Riverside can help you get there faster, allowing you to graduate in as little as 13 months.
Which country has highest demand for mechanical engineers?
Mechanical engineers are in high demand in Canada, particularly in the Western provinces, where salaries are higher than in Toronto or Montreal, and where the majority of them work in the oil, gas, and industrial sectors.
Are Mechanical Engineers in demand?
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Mechanical Engineers will increase by 9% by 2026, owing to advances in the automation, medical device, biotechnology, and aerospace industries.
What is the highest paid mechanical engineer?
New Mexico ($114,420), the District of Columbia ($112,240), Maryland ($109,800), California ($107,920), and Alaska ($103,360) are the states and districts that pay Mechanical Engineers the highest average salaries.
Can engineers make 300K?
As a senior software engineer, you can expect to earn between $200,000 and $300,000 per year, which is more than enough for most people. The average pay for a senior software developer in the United States is $106,575, which is enough for an upper middle class income.
Can I become rich as an engineer?
Engineers can expect to become millionaires over the course of their working lives, according to a 2014 survey by Chef. The current median salary for an engineer varies by type of job, but can range from $37,737 to $334,979 per year.
Why are engineers paid so much?
Engineers’ high earnings are commensurate with the role’s required technical skills, which are in high demand; additionally, as many industries become more technical in nature, the demand for engineers with both unique technical skills and soft skills is increasing.