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Analyze problems to see how mechanical and thermal devices might help solve the
problem
Design or redesign mechanical and thermal devices using analysis and computeraided design
Develop and test prototypes of devices they design
Analyze the test results and change the design as needed
Oversee the manufacturing process for the device
Mechanical engineers design and oversee the manufacturing of many products
ranging from medical devices to new batteries.
Mechanical engineers design other machines inside buildings, such as elevators and
escalators. They also design material-handling systems, such as conveyor systems
and automated transfer stations.
Education
Nearly all entry-level mechanical engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree in
mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology.
Mechanical engineering technology programs focus less on theory and more on the
practical application of engineering principles. Programs typically last 4 years, but
many students take between 4 and 5 years to earn a degree. Mechanical
engineering degree programs may emphasize internships and co-ops to prepare
students for work in industry.
Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that allow students to obtain
both a bachelors and a masters degree. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative
plans combine classroom study with practical work, enabling students to gain
valuable experience and earn money to finance part of their education.
Job Outlook
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2012 to
2022, slower than the average for all occupations. Job prospects may be best for
those who stay informed regarding the most recent advances in technology.
Mechanical engineers can work in many industries and on many types of projects.
As a result, their growth rate will differ by the industries that employ them.
Mechanical engineers are projected to experience faster than average growth in oil
and gas extraction because of their knowledge and skills regarding thermal energy.
Mechanical engineers often work on the newest industrial pursuits. The fields of
alternative energies, remanufacturing, and nanotechnology may offer new
opportunities for occupational growth. Remanufacturingrebuilding goods for use in
a second lifeholds promise because it reduces the cost of waste disposal. Training
in remanufacturing may become common in mechanical engineering programs at
colleges and universities.
Job Prospects
Although prospects for mechanical engineers overall are expected to be good, they
will be best for those with training in the latest software tools, particularly for
computational design and simulation. Such tools allow engineers and designers to
take a project from the conceptual phase directly to a finished product, eliminating
the need for prototypes. Along those lines, students who can take courses in 3-D
printing will also improve their job prospects.
Salary
The median annual wage for mechanical engineers was $80,580 in May 2012. The
median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more
than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than
$52,030, and the top 10 percent earned more than $121,530.
In May 2012, the median annual wages for mechanical engineers in the top five
industries employing these engineers were as follows:
Most mechanical engineers work full time, and about one-third worked more than 40
hours a week in 2012.