# Mechanical Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2141.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $104,110 (10th percentile $73,990, 90th percentile $164,340)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +11.2%
- Openings a year: 17,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 69 |
| Artistic (A) | 17 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 64 |

## What you'd do

- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (importance 96/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 93/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 89/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 87/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 81/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 77/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Mathematics, Science, Active Learning, Operations Analysis, Speaking

## Knowledge

Design, Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, Mechanical, English Language, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Physics

## Also called

Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer), Application Engineer, Automation Engineer, Body Engineer, Brake Engineer, Car Designer, Combustion Engineer, Cooling and Heating Systems Design Engineer, Cryogenics Engineer, Design Engineer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1419) (CIP 1419, 445 colleges)
- Engineering Mechanics (CIP 1411, 29 colleges)
- Electromechanical Engineering (CIP 1441, 10 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Mechanical Engineering | $94,095 | $131,967 | $15,000 |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | Mechanical Engineering | $98,324 | $126,395 | $23,147 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Mechanical Engineering | $84,296 | $122,111 | $16,304 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Mechanical Engineering | $88,721 | $120,991 | $13,250 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Mechanical Engineering | $95,340 | $119,371 | $11,175 |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Mechanical Engineering | not reported | $117,072 | not reported |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Mechanical Engineering | not reported | $115,927 | not reported |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Mechanical Engineering | not reported | $114,492 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $74,510 median pay
- [Electrical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-engineers): $120,630 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $78,190 median pay
- [Mechatronics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechatronics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Electronics Engineers, Except Computer](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electronics-engineers-except-computer): $130,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.