Post job

What is an associate mechanical engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Amir Riaz Ph.D.

Associate mechanical engineers are responsible for applying engineering principles to design and develop mechanical systems for varied purposes. They assess if targets are achieved and determine where improvements could be made to increase efficiency. They also coordinate with authorities for approvals of schemes, earning a median sum of $70,000 annually or $34 per hour.

Associate mechanical engineers are tasked with participating in marketing, administration, budgeting, business development, and many more. They test new methods and equipment to be used for a project and perform business development activities to acquire new clients. Associate mechanical engineers are required to be excellent team players with the ability to guide the team in the right direction.

In order to become an associate mechanical engineer, it will be best to hold a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering course, as well as previous experience in project design and documentation for various large-scale projects.

What general advice would you give to an associate mechanical engineer?

Amir Riaz Ph.D.Amir Riaz Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, University of Maryland - College Park

Many of the skills that you developed during the course of your Bachelors degree are fundamental, such as self learning, teamwork, engineering approach to practical problems. These you will continue to develop further as you progress in your career. Looking to the future, learn coding and engineering softwares, e.g. ANSYS, pay attention to machine learning and additive manufacturing.
ScoreAssociate Mechanical EngineerUS Average
Salary
5.6

Avg. Salary $71,432

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 15.69%

Black or African American 3.22%

Hispanic or Latino 8.51%

Unknown 4.55%

White 67.92%

Gender

female 12.25%

male 87.75%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Associate mechanical engineer career paths

Key steps to become an associate mechanical engineer

  1. Explore associate mechanical engineer education requirements

    Most common associate mechanical engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.4 %

    Associate

    13.5 %

    Master's

    10.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific associate mechanical engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CAD14.39%
    Mechanical Design7.12%
    Solidworks5.73%
    Mechanical Systems5.71%
    Engineering Design3.69%
  3. Complete relevant associate mechanical engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate mechanical engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate mechanical engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate mechanical engineer resumes.
  4. Research associate mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Attain SolidWorks CSWP certification and maintaining proficiency within CREO & AutoCad
    • Participate in FMEA s and recommend design improvements.
    • Document and confirm risk management activities (DFMEA & PFMEA).
    • Create tolerance stacks, risk assessments and DFMEA, used results to improve designs.
  5. Prepare your associate mechanical engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your associate mechanical engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an associate mechanical engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable associate mechanical engineer resume templates

    Build a professional associate mechanical engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your associate mechanical engineer resume.
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
    Associate Mechanical Engineer Resume
  6. Apply for associate mechanical engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an associate mechanical engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first associate mechanical engineer job

Zippi

Are you an associate mechanical engineer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average associate mechanical engineer salary

The average associate mechanical engineer salary in the United States is $71,432 per year or $34 per hour. Associate mechanical engineer salaries range between $56,000 and $89,000 per year.

Average associate mechanical engineer salary
$71,432 Yearly
$34.34 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do associate mechanical engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Associate mechanical engineer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

It can gurantee you a good salary and if you are creative you can do many things.

Cons

you have to be creative.


Working as an associate mechanical engineer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse architecture and engineering jobs