Mechanical Engineering

Something to Consider

While you may be able to earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in four years, some schools offer extended five- or six-year programs that you can complete to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree. This could be quicker and less expensive than returning later to school for a master's degree.

Some schools also offer cooperative-education programs, or co-ops, which allow you to alternate between classroom education and hands-on experience working for an employer in the field. While this can extend the time it takes to finish your degree, you'll generally be paid for the work, and you'll graduate with valuable work experience that could make it easier to find a full-time job.

Regardless of the path you choose, look for a school that offers an ABET-accredited degree program. It may be a requirement to become a licensed professional engineer later, and employers may prefer graduates who have a degree from an accredited program.

After Graduation

A mechanical engineering degree gives you versatile skills and can lead to a job in many industries. However, no matter which industry you're interested in, you may also want to continue your education after graduation.

In particular, keeping up with the latest software and learning how to create designs and simulations could be important. You could also look for ways to carve out a niche for yourself, such as becoming an expert in 3D printing.

Where You Could End Up Living

While you might be able to find work as a mechanical engineer anywhere (there are even remote, work-from-home opportunities), there tend to be more mechanical engineers in certain states.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2019, the top five states were:

Michigan (43,850 jobs)

California (27,830 jobs)

Texas (20,020 jobs)

Pennsylvania (16,930 jobs)

Ohio (15,300 jobs)

If you're looking for the best pay, the metropolitan areas with the highest annual mean wages in May 2019 were:

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California ($125,640)

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California ($123,270)

Lake Charles, Louisiana ($120,950)

Albuquerque, New Mexico ($120,470)

Midland, Texas ($119,800)

However, higher pay can also come with more competition. For example, there are only 110 mechanical engineers in Lake Charles, Louisiana and only 250 in Midland, Texas.

Salary and Occupation Outlook

The BLS also found the median pay (the middle point, not the average) for mechanical engineers was $88,430 in 2019. The pay can vary depending on your industry, though.

For example, the median annual pay for mechanical engineers in machinery manufacturing was $80,720, while those working in scientific research and development services earned $101,780.

There is a positive outlook for mechanical engineers in general, and as of 2019, there were 316,300 mechanical engineering jobs in the United States. The BLS estimates that the job numbers will grow 4 percent between 2019 and 2029, which is on pace with the expected growth for all engineers and all other occupations.