How do mechanical engineers get internships?

Mechanical engineers get internships through different paths, including through the university, from online job postings, networking, and contacting prospective companies. Internship experience plays a large role in your ability to land an entry-level mechanical engineering position; therefore, it's very important to do your research.

How much do mechanical engineering interns make?

Mechanical engineering interns make $43,000 a year, on average ($21.00 an hour). The range in pay for mechanical engineering is between $32,000 to $58,000 a year. Factors such as location and company type impact how much a mechanical engineering intern can make.

What is the best internship for mechanical engineering students?

The best internship for mechanical engineering students is one that will provide practical hands-on experience and good mentorship opportunities. For example, companies like Google, Salesforce, General Electric, Intel, and Siemens all provide excellent mechanical engineering internships for students and pay well, as well as provide important hands-on experience.

How To Become A Mechanical Engineering Internship: What It Is and Career Path

What is a mechanical engineering internship and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Andrea Welker Ph.D.,

Robert Taylor

A mechanical engineering internship is an opportunity for students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in the field. During an internship, students work with experienced engineers and assist in designing, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems. Interns may also attend meetings, conduct research, create reports, and collaborate with others. The goal of a mechanical engineering internship aims to provide real-world experience that enhances a student's education and helps them develop skills for their future career.

What general advice would you give to a Mechanical Engineering Internship?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

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 Engineering InternshipUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $42,749

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 16.71%

Black or African American 3.07%

Hispanic or Latino 7.81%

Unknown 4.51%

White 67.80%

Gender

female 12.83%

male 87.17%

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 Engineering Internship?

Pros

Chance to work on real-world projects
Potential for a job offer after graduation
Enhance resume and marketability
Learn about industry trends and advancements
Opportunity to receive mentorship and guidance

Cons

Limited salary or compensation
Possible lack of challenging tasks or responsibilities
Possible lack of direction or guidance from supervisor
Pressure to perform and produce results quickly
Long hours or tight deadlines may be required at times

Key steps to become a mechanical engineering internship

Explore mechanical engineering internship education requirements

Most common mechanical engineering internship degrees

Bachelor's

77.5 %

Master's

8.7 %

Associate

8.0 %

Start to develop specific mechanical engineering internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Solidworks	14.96%
PowerPoint	4.71%
Mechanical Design	4.67%
Mechanical Systems	4.31%
Revit	3.79%

Complete relevant mechanical engineering internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mechanical engineering interns 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 engineering internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mechanical engineering internship resumes.

Research mechanical engineering internship duties and responsibilities

Programme VBA tool to organize and manage operator-supply production data into a comprehensive data set.
Develop design specifications, implement RTL, generate simulation models, test benches, design software and documentation.
Remodel PERL scripts to test DLL, PLL, USB, EFUSE, SERDES.
Check design package and concept drawings of Jr.

Prepare your mechanical engineering internship resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mechanical engineering internship 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 engineering internship 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 Engineering Internship Resume templates

Build a professional Mechanical Engineering Internship 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 Engineering Internship resume.

Apply for mechanical engineering internship jobs

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

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

Average mechanical engineering internship salary

The average Mechanical Engineering Internship salary in the United States is $42,749 per year or $21 per hour. Mechanical engineering internship salaries range between $33,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average Mechanical Engineering Internship Salary

$42,749 Yearly

$20.55 hourly

How do mechanical engineering interns rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Mechanical Engineering Internship reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

Learn much about different systems. Project management and worthy salary.

Cons

Stop and hold in regular degree of salary and responsibilities. I am so eager to learn much and so effective

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019