Employment Outlook

Mechanical Engineers are employed in virtually every industry, with most working for manufacturing firms and a substantial number employed by consulting services.

Although some engineers spend most of their time in an office, many jobs require working part of the time in a plant, testing laboratory, machine shop, or installation site. Engineers also travel to professional conferences and training sessions to keep abreast of recent advances in the field. Many of them belong to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers or the National Society of Professional Engineers.

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.

Entrance Requirements and Training

A bachelor of science in mechanical engineering (BSME) or a related engineering degree is the minimum requirement for most entry-level positions. Some employers prefer a master's degree; others hire only those who have at least two years' experience. Most employers are looking for students to have at least a 3.0 GPA. A 3.0 GPA is also required for admission into most graduate school programs in Engineering.

Mechanical Engineers whose work may affect the public welfare (such as consulting engineers and those in decision-making positions in certain governmental agencies) must be registered by the State. To obtain registration, engineers must have at least a BSME degree and two years' engineering experience. They must pass the Engineer-in-Training examination and, later, the professional examination in mechanical engineering. While registration is not required for all jobs, a registered engineer may have a competitive edge for advancement to more responsible positions.

Important college prep courses include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and physics. Courses in mechanical drawing and drafting, computer science, machine shop and business administration are helpful.

Career Advancement

Mechanical Engineers must keep up with new technologies and developments in their field through reading, advanced courses, conferences and professional society seminars.Those who are hired with bachelor's degrees may be expected to work toward their master's. Most companies pay some or all of the costs for career-related education. Experienced engineers may promote to senior or project engineer. Some move into management after several years of technical work.

Job Growth

Mechanical engineers are projected to have an average rate of employment growth through 2014.

Although total employment in manufacturing industries — in which employment of mechanical engineers is concentrated — is expected to decline, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase 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 the skills acquired through earning a degree in mechanical engineering often can be applied in other engineering specialties.

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.

Earnings

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.

More current salary information and a link to salary trends through the Wall Street Journal is available at CollegeGrad.com.

For more information visit the California Employment Development Department and CollegeGrad.com.