Salary Range
$50,000 to $100,000+Overview
Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical systems that produce, transmit, or use power. They may work in design, instrumentation, testing, robotics, transportation, or bioengineering, among other areas. The broadest of all engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering extends across many interdependent specialties. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations, maintenance, or technical sales, and many are administrators or managers. Approximately 312,900 mechanical engineers are employed in the United States.
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor's DegreeCertification/License
RequiredOutlook
About as Fast as the AveragePersonality Traits
Conventional
Problem-Solving
Scientific
Career Ladder
Engineering Researcher or Professor
Engineering Manager
Mechanical Engineer
Junior Engineer
Related Professions
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Aircraft Mechanics
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Architects
- Astrobiologists
- Astrogeologists
- Astronauts
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automobile Collision Repairers
- Automobile Sales Workers
- Automobile Service Technicians
- Automotive Dealership Owners and Sales Managers
- Automotive Designers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Automotive Technology Teachers
- Avionics Engineers and Technicians
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Broadcast Engineers
- Business Managers
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Diesel Mechanics
- Drafters
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Drone Pilots
- Drone Repair Technicians
- Drug Developers
- Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Flight Instructors
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Graphic Designers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Gunsmiths
- Hardware Engineers
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Locomotive Engineers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Meteorologists
- Microbiologists
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Microfabrication Engineers and Technicians
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Molders
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Plastics Engineers and Technicians
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Public Transportation Operators
- Quality Control Engineers and Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Railroad Conductors
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Robotics Engineers and Technicians
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Signal Mechanics
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Solar Engineers
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Stevedores
- Supply Chain Managers
- Test Drivers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Transportation Planners
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wood Science and Technology Workers
