Mechanical Engineer Career

mechanical-engineer-500Mechanical engineers research and develop machines, tools and various mechanical devices and components. If you like solving complex problems then a career in mechanical engineering may be for you.

One of the advantages of specializing in mechanical engineering is that it is an all-purpose engineering degree. That means you will be able to gain employment at many different companies across the nation. Your chances of finding employment as a mechanical engineer are high due to the nature of the work and the fact that it encompasses so much. However, you will need to gain a bachelor’s degree or associates in mechanical engineering from an accredited college or university in order to have the best chances of finding a job in this field.

Mechanical Engineer Career Assessment

Take our Mechanical Engineer career assessment. This 30 question quiz let’s you know if you’re cut out for a career in mechanical engineering by analyzing your abilities, skills, and interests.

1. Do you have an interest in reading and interpreting blueprints and technical drawings?

2. Do you like researching and designing mechanical products?

3. Do you like the idea of working with others to provide technical information or resolve problems?

4. Would you be OK investigating equipment failure or difficulties and solving the problems?

5. Would you be OK assisting drafters or using drafting tools including computer software?

6. Would you like to gain more knowledge of practical applications of engineering science and technology?

7. Do you have knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, and other basic math principles?

8. Do you have or would you be willing to gain knowledge of design techniques involved in the production of blueprints and drawings?

9. Do you have knowledge or machines and tools?

10. Do you like learning about physics and physical principles along with their interrelationships?

11. Can you give full attention to what other people say and take time to understand the points being made?

12. Can you use logic and reasoning to approach problems?

13. Do you like using mathematics to solve problems?

14. Do you have the ability to understand written sentences in work related documents?

15. Do you like the idea of using scientific rules and methods to solve problems?

16. Do you have the ability to arrange things in a certain order or pattern?

17. Do you have the ability to listen and understand ideas presented in spoken words and sentences?

18. Do you have the ability to read and understand the ideas you just read?

19. Can you apply deductive and inductive reasoning?

20. Do you have the ability to choose the right math formula to solve a problem?

21. Are you OK using computers to enter data and process information?

22. Are you OK providing information to supervisors and coworkers?

23. Can you analyze information and evaluate results to choose the best solution and solve problems?

24. Can you identify the underlying principles by breaking down information into separate parts?

25. Are you OK gaining information from all relevant sources?

26. Are you OK having face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams every day?

27. Are you OK having frequent telephone conversations?

28. Do you appreciate determining your own tasks, priorities, and goals?

29. Do you like having a substantial amount of freedom to make decisions without supervision?

30. Are you OK being in constant or near to constant contact with others?

Mechanical Engineer Snapshot

Engineers solve complex problems for society. Mechanical engineers create and build mechanical devices. They apply the fundamentals of science and math to create practical, useful solutions that the rest of society can use.

With a degree in mechanical engineering, diversity is the key. You can wind up working in a laboratory or at an outdoor construction site. Remember, nearly every mechanical device was created by a mechanical engineer so the possibilities for employment are virtually endless.

The following snapshot includes details on a career as a mechanical engineer (statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$83,590

is the average earnings for mechanical engineers per year.

5%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

83%

have a Bachelor’s degree, 7% have an Associate’s degree.

Mechanical Engineer Education

In order to gain employment as a mechanical engineer, you will need at least a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. You can get started without licensure, but opportunities for licensing exist in the form of a Professional Engineering (PE) license. Gaining the PE license allows for higher paid, leadership opportunities in the field.

Mechanical Engineer Job Duties

Mechanical engineering is the broadest engineering field. Typically mechanical engineers design and build devices used in a variety of different industries. They may research, test, and solve problems on a typical work day.

Mechanical Engineer Salaries

Mechanical engineers earn a salary ranging from $53,640 on the low end to more than $128,430 a year on the high end. Mechanical engineers involved with research and development typically earn more than those in other industries.

Mechanical Engineer Job Outlook

According to the BLS.gov, careers in mechanical engineering are expected to increase by 5% between 2014 and 2024 which is about as fast as the average occupation. Mechanical engineers have a wide variety of work options spanning different industries so depending on which industry you get into, you can see different growth patterns. For example, the transportation industry is currently growing more rapidly than many other industries.

Mechanical Engineer Career

Learn a little about the special tools frequently used by mechanical engineers on the job along with the typical work activities.

Mechanical Engineer Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Mechanical Engineers:Typical Work Activities:
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Mathematics
• Reading Comprehension
• Information Ordering
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Flowmeters
• Machine Mounts
• Semiconductor Process Systems
• CAD Software
• Interacting With Computers
• Making Decisions
• Communicating
• Analyzing Data

Related Careers

Materials Engineers

Bachelor’s Degree

Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Associate’s Degree

What Do Related Careers Pay?

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