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What is a mechanical engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Andrea Welker Ph.D.,
Brian Denton Ph.D.
introduction image

A mechanical engineer designs, develops, tests, and manufactures mechanical devices and systems. They use their knowledge of materials, physics, and mechanics to create solutions for a wide range of problems. Mechanical engineers can work in automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and energy fields. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create schematics and models. They also conduct tests and analyze data to ensure that designs meet specifications. Mechanical engineers use problem-solving and collaboration skills to create successful projects.

What general advice would you give to a Mechanical Engineer?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.Andrea Welker Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.
ScoreMechanical EngineerUS Average
Salary
5.9

Avg. Salary $75,352

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 16.57%

Black or African American 3.06%

Hispanic or Latino 7.78%

Unknown 4.51%

White 67.98%

Gender

female 9.44%

male 90.56%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a Mechanical Engineer?

Pros

  • Good salary

  • Job stability

  • Opportunities for career advancement

  • Potential for travel

  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology

Cons

  • Long work hours

  • High stress levels at times

  • Can involve physically demanding work

  • Tight deadlines may lead to pressure and stress

  • May require working in noisy or uncomfortable environments

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Mechanical Engineer career paths

Key steps to become a mechanical engineer

  1. Explore mechanical engineer education requirements

    Most common mechanical engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    77.3 %

    Master's

    11.5 %

    Associate

    7.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific mechanical engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CAD9.61%
    Solidworks8.87%
    Mechanical Systems6.08%
    Mechanical Design5.11%
    HVAC4.75%
  3. Complete relevant mechanical engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 a mechanical engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mechanical engineer resumes.
  4. Research mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage machine shop and Sr. Machinist/Toolmaker.
    • Lead the implementation of Syteline MRP software.
    • Manage component work orders and failure test scheduling to parts as per DFMEA with design team.
    • Use of PLM software tools such as WindChill to manage data, revisions, iterations and approvals.
  5. Prepare your mechanical engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 a 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 Mechanical Engineer Resume templates

    Build a professional 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 Mechanical Engineer resume.
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    Mechanical Engineer Resume
  6. Apply for mechanical engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a 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 Mechanical Engineer Job

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Are you a Mechanical Engineer?

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Average mechanical engineer salary

The average Mechanical Engineer salary in the United States is $75,352 per year or $36 per hour. Mechanical engineer salaries range between $58,000 and $97,000 per year.

Average Mechanical Engineer Salary
$75,352 Yearly
$36.23 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do mechanical engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

The Different employees i work with and what all i learn from them

Cons

very little


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Troubleshooting and commissioning

Cons

Undone job, when we're unable to discover certain fault on time.


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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.

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