How to become a Mechanical Engineer

Official title: Mechanical Engineers

Also called: Application Engineer, Design Engineer, Equipment Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanical Designer, Mechanical Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer, Test Engineer

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.

Main 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.
• 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.

How to become one

Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. All states and the District of Columbia require mechanical engineers who sell services to the public to be licensed.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Tool Design.
• Apprenticeship: Tool Design.
• College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 49 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $104,110 a year The middle half earn $84,130 to $132,590.
• About 298,500 people work in this job now, and about 332,000 are projected by 2035. (+11.2%)
• People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Related jobs

• Fuel Cell Engineers
• Automotive Engineers
• Transportation Engineers
• Water/Wastewater Engineers
• Environmental Engineers
• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Mechanical Engineer?

Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. All states and the District of Columbia require mechanical engineers who sell services to the public to be licensed.

How much does a Mechanical Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $104,110 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $84,130 to $132,590.

Is a Mechanical Engineer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 298,500 to about 332,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Mechanical Engineer?

Usually. 83% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Mechanical Engineer?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.