Architecture & Engineering
Mechanical Engineers
Also called: Application Engineer, Design Engineer, Equipment Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer
US median pay
$104,110
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+11.2%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
17,800
298,500 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
- Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
- Provide technical customer service.
- Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
- Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Operations Analysis3.5/5
- Systems Evaluation3.4/5
- Systems Analysis3.4/5
- Technology Design3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
Knowledge
- Design4.5/5
- Engineering and Technology4.5/5
- Production and Processing4.3/5
- Mechanical4.2/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Mathematics3.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree52%
- Associate's degree29%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.