Mechanical Engineers
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 17-2141.00United States
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.
- Median annual earnings
- $104,090
- Projected change
- +11.3%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 303.91K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
52.3% of the workforce
Growing to 338.22K by 2035
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These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What mechanical engineers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- 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.
- Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
- Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
- Provide technical customer service.
- Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
- Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems.
- Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs.
- Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.
- Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects.
- Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $73,144
- 25th percentile
- $83,690
- 50th percentile
- $104,090
- 75th percentile
- $134,956
- 90th percentile
- $167,956
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $104,090 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+11.3%faster than average
2025303,914 jobs
2035 projected338,224 jobs
34,310 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 52.3%
- Associate degree
- 28.6%
- Certificate
- 8.9%
- Some college
- 8.3%
- High school diploma or less
- 1.3%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 0.5%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Technology Design
- Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Mechanical Engineers19,034 postings
- 02Mechanical Design Engineers4,746 postings
- 03Test Engineers1,620 postings
- 04Mechanical Engineering Interns1,576 postings
- 05Principal Mechanical Engineers1,399 postings
- 06Mechanical Project Engineers1,193 postings
- 07Engineers953 postings
- 08Equipment Engineers931 postings
- 09Mechanical HVAC Engineers897 postings
- 10Project Engineers891 postings
- 11Mechanical Designers840 postings
- 12Tooling Engineers772 postings
- 13Thermal Engineers717 postings
- 14Lead Mechanical Engineers686 postings
- 15Component Engineers657 postings
- 16RD Engineers651 postings
- 17Mechanical Systems Engineers590 postings
- 18Plumbing Engineers560 postings
- 19Plumbing Designers512 postings
- 20Principal Engineers494 postings
Top employers
- 01Actalent3,101 postings
- 02GPAC1,379 postings
- 03RTX1,129 postings
- 04Lockheed Martin983 postings
- 05Jacobs Solutions932 postings
- 06Blue Origin774 postings
- 07Northrop Grumman769 postings
- 08L3Harris Technologies647 postings
- 09Insight Global619 postings
- 10Jobot605 postings
- 11Tesla572 postings
- 12Sandia Corporation570 postings
- 13Constellation Energy542 postings
- 14Boeing438 postings
- 15CBRE432 postings
- 16Apple412 postings
- 17micro1388 postings
- 18Cmta381 postings
- 19Anduril Industries373 postings
- 20GE Vernova356 postings
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