Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture, and
test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work
on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal
combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines. They also develop
power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning
equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and
escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in
manufacturing. Mechanical engineers also design tools that other
engineers need for their work. The field of nanotechnology, which
involves the creation of high-performance materials and components by
integrating atoms and molecules, is introducing entirely new principles
to the design process.
Computers assist mechanical engineers by accurately and efficiently
performing computations, and by permitting the modeling and simulation
of new designs as well as facilitating changes to existing designs.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) are
used for design data processing and for turning the design into a
product.
Mechanical engineers work in many industries, and their work varies
by industry and function. Some specialize in energy systems; applied
mechanics; automotive design; manufacturing; materials; plant
engineering and maintenance; pressure vessels and piping; and heating,
refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems. Mechanical engineering is
one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers may
work in production operations in manufacturing or agriculture,
maintenance, or technical sales; many are administrators or managers.
Mechanical engineers held about 215,000 jobs in 2002. More than half
of the jobs were in manufacturing—mostly in machinery, transportation
equipment, computer and electronic products, and fabricated metal
products manufacturing industries. Architectural, engineering, and
related services, and the Federal Government provided many of the
remaining jobs.
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow
more slowly than the average for all occupations though 2012.
Although overall employment in manufacturing industries—where
employment of mechanical engineers is concentrated—is expected to
decrease slightly, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing
should increase more rapidly as the demand for improved machinery and
machine tools grows and as industrial machinery and processes become
increasingly complex. Also, emerging technologies in biotechnology,
materials science, and nanotechnology will create new job opportunities
for mechanical engineers. Additional opportunities for mechanical
engineers will arise because a degree in mechanical engineering often
can be applied in other engineering specialties. In addition to job
openings arising from growth, many openings should result from the need
to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor
force.
Median annual earnings of mechanical engineers were $62,880 in 2002.
The middle 50 percent earned between $50,800 and $78,040. The lowest 10
percent earned less than $41,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more
than $93,430. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the
largest numbers of mechanical engineers in 2002 were:
Federal government
$72,500
Architectural, engineering, and related services
65,610
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control
instruments manufacturing
65,430
Aerospace products and parts manufacturing
65,160
Other general puropse machinery manufacturing
55,850
According to a 2003 salary survey by the National Association of
Colleges and Employers, bachelor’s degree candidates in mechanical
engineering received starting offers averaging $48,585 a year,
master’s degree candidates had offers averaging $54,565, and Ph.D.
candidates were initially offered $69,904.
Links to non-BLS Internet sites are provided for your
convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
General information about mechanical engineers as well as
information on careers, education, and training is available from:
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 3 Park Ave., New
York, NY 10016. Internet: http://www.asme.org
Information about heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning
engineering, a mechanical engineering specialty, is available from:
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle NE., Atlanta, GA 30329.
Internet: http://www.ashrae.org
Information about automotive engineering, a mechanical engineering
specialty, is available from:
Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Dr.,
Warrendale, PA 15096-0001. Internet: http://www.sae.org
See the introduction to the section on engineers
for information on working conditions, training requirements, and other
sources of additional information.
Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
2004-05 Edition,
Mechanical Engineers
, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/
ocos033.htm
(visited January 27, 2005).
