Mechanical Engineers

Overview

Mechanical Engineers has a national median salary of $104,110 per year, with +11.2% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Recognition
• Achievement
• Independence

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.
• Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.

Work Activities

• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
• Working with Computers
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Thinking Creatively
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Getting Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Detailed Work Activities

• Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Mechanical Engineers:

Video Resources