Mechanical Engineer
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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.
Also called: Application Engineer · Design Engineer · Equipment Engineer · Mechanical Design Engineer · Mechanical Designer · Mechanical Engineer · Product Development Engineer · Product Engineer
O*NET-SOC 17-2141.00 (Mechanical Engineers)
Mechanical Engineer salary
Wages for mechanical engineers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $50.05.
Mechanical Engineer pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $82,070 | $130,900 | $203,620 |
| Texas | $75,810 | $112,410 | $175,210 |
| Florida | $66,260 | $99,980 | $153,950 |
| New York | $74,990 | $102,440 | $160,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,770 | $97,920 | $150,950 |
| Illinois | $72,150 | $102,680 | $160,160 |
| Ohio | $69,160 | $99,100 | $138,020 |
| Georgia | $71,940 | $100,620 | $156,320 |
| North Carolina | $71,260 | $100,720 | $155,550 |
| Michigan | $76,310 | $104,890 | $159,840 |
Mechanical Engineer job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 298,500 jobs in 2025 to 332,000 in 2035 (11% change).
- About 17,800 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become a mechanical engineer
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.6%
- High school diploma or equivalent4.3%
- Some college, no degree5.6%
- Associate's degree6.2%
- Bachelor's degree57.3%
- Master's degree22.3%
- Doctoral or professional degree3.7%
Related training programs
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Engineering Mechanics
- Mechanical Engineering
What does a mechanical engineer do?
Common tasks
- 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.
- Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
- Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
- Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
- Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
- Operations Analysis
- Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Mechanical Engineer certifications
8 of 34 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Festo · Core
- Robotics Education and Competition Foundation · Skill
- Bearing Specialists Association · Core
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying · Advanced
- Green Business Certification Inc. · Advanced
- Association for Facilities Engineering · Advanced
- Fluid Power Hydraulic Specialist (CFPHS)International Fluid Power Society · Specialty
- National Ground Water Association · Advanced
See all 34certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Mechanical Engineer jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more engineering jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Engineering jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Electrical Engineer
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
More engineering careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Mechanical Engineers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.