What Does a Mechanical Engineer Do?
A chiller that quits during an August heat wave is the kind of problem a mechanical engineer gets called in to solve. Working from engineering offices for manufacturers, consulting firms, government agencies and large facilities teams, mechanical engineers design, test and improve machines and the heating, cooling and pumping systems inside buildings. Visits to plant floors and job sites are part of the routine.
Also known as: Senior Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer Associate
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Application Engineer, Design Engineer, Equipment Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanical Designer, Product Development Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer.
Mechanical Engineer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a mechanical engineer include:
- Design machines, components and building systems in CAD software such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
- Calculate heating and cooling loads, airflow and pipe sizes for new and renovated buildings.
- Build and test prototypes, then revise the design based on measured performance.
- Prepare drawings, specifications and cost estimates for construction bids and manufacturing runs.
- Review contractor submittals and shop drawings against the design and the applicable codes.
- Investigate equipment failures and recommend repair, replacement or a change in design.
- Inspect installed equipment on site and confirm it performs as specified before handover.
- Evaluate energy use in existing buildings and propose upgrades that lower operating costs.
- Coordinate with electrical, structural and controls engineers so every system fits and works together.
- Supervise drafters and junior engineers and check their calculations before drawings are issued.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a mechanical engineer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- SolidWorks, AutoCAD or Inventor for models and drawings
- Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer
- HVAC design and mechanical building codes
- Finite element analysis for stress, heat and vibration
- Professional Engineer (PE) license for roles that seal drawings
- Clear technical writing for specifications and reports
- Patient, methodical troubleshooting when equipment fails
- Coordination with contractors, vendors and other engineers
Education and Training
Most mechanical engineers qualify through a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, but some start out by working as drafters or engineering technicians while they finish the degree part-time. Once you have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and built up supervised experience you will need to pass the PE exam in the state where you plan to seal drawings. A license matters most in consulting.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $84,130 - $132,590 per year, with a median of $104,110.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Mechanical Engineers.
BLS projects employment of mechanical engineers to grow about 11 percent from 2025 to 2035. Demand will come from several directions, including factory automation; energy upgrades to buildings, such as heat pumps and better ventilation; and electric vehicles, as carmakers redesign drivetrains and battery cooling. The same projection allows for roughly 17,800 openings a year, so a new graduate with co-op or internship experience should find steady interest from employers.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Mechanical engineers.
Mechanical Engineer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $73,990 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $84,130 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $104,110 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $132,590 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $164,340 |
Highest-Paying States for Mechanical Engineers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are New Mexico ($157,710), District of Columbia ($133,300), California ($130,900), Delaware ($125,130), Colorado ($124,430). Pay is lowest in North Dakota ($86,330), Kansas ($86,260), Arkansas ($80,180).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $100,230 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Arizona | $100,270 |
| Arkansas | $80,180 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Connecticut | $105,090 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| Florida | $99,980 |
| Georgia | $100,620 |
| Hawaii | $98,740 |
| Idaho | $93,190 |
| Illinois | $102,680 |
| Indiana | $99,590 |
| Iowa | $97,700 |
| Kansas | $86,260 |
| Kentucky | $101,050 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Maine | $102,430 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Michigan | $104,890 |
| Minnesota | $99,140 |
| Mississippi | $98,000 |
| Missouri | $99,330 |
| Montana | $94,190 |
| Nebraska | $88,060 |
| Nevada | $102,680 |
| New Hampshire | $103,660 |
| New Jersey | $112,300 |
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| New York | $102,440 |
| North Carolina | $100,720 |
| North Dakota | $86,330 |
| Ohio | $99,100 |
| Oklahoma | $101,850 |
| Oregon | $103,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,920 |
| Rhode Island | $116,230 |
| South Carolina | $104,580 |
| South Dakota | $88,380 |
| Tennessee | $99,550 |
| Texas | $112,410 |
| Utah | $102,500 |
| Vermont | $107,330 |
| Virginia | $104,180 |
| Washington | $110,430 |
| West Virginia | $97,390 |
| Wisconsin | $95,870 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as mechanical engineers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% use email every day
- 95% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 69% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 50% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
- 49% are on the phone every day
- 45% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 38% speak in front of groups at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 52% |
| Associate's degree | 29% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 9% |
| Some college | 8% |
Tools and Software Mechanical Engineers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as analyzing problems and working with ideas.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Science, Complex Problem Solving.
Knowledge areas used most: Design, Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, Mechanical, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Mechanical Engineer Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 17-2141.00 (Mechanical Engineers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.