Career Profile: Mechanical Engineers

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 284,900 people employed as mechanical engineers in the United States. The median annual salary is $95,300. Entry level employees earn approximately $60,750 per year and senior employees earn approximately $136,210 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems.
• Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.
• Solicit new business.
• Provide technical customer service.
• Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement.
• Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition.
• Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution.
• Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products.
• Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs.
• Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
• Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects.
• Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
• Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.
• Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems.
• Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
• Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering.
• Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.
• Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers.
• 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.
• Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
• Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
• Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
• Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
• Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
• Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
• Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
• Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.

Career Explorer