What do Mechanical Engineer's do?

Question

If a student graduates with a Mechanical Engineering degree, what would he/she do as a living? and what pay range would they be in?

Answer 1

Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, as well as power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing. Mechanical engineers also design tools that other engineers need for their work. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations in manufacturing or agriculture, maintenance, or technical sales; many are administrators or managers.


Mechanical engineers are projected to have an average rate of employment growth through 2014. Although total employment in manufacturing industries—in which employment of mechanical engineers is concentrated—is expected to decline, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase as the demand for improved machinery and machine tools grows and as industrial machinery and processes become increasingly complex. Also, emerging technologies in biotechnology, materials science, and nanotechnology will create new job opportunities for mechanical engineers. Additional opportunities for mechanical engineers will arise because the skills acquired through earning a degree in mechanical engineering often can be applied in other engineering specialties.

The following tabulation shows average starting salary offers for mechanical engineers, according to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Batchelor's $50,236
Master's $59,880
Ph.D $68,299

Professional societies

Mechanical engineers


The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 3 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990. Internet: http://www.asme.org


American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle NE., Atlanta, GA 30329. Internet: http://www.ashrae.org


Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001. Internet: http://www.sae.org

Answer 2

Engineers design all sorts of things. Structural (or civil) engineers design buildings, bridges and roads, computer engineers design computer hardware.

You have probably worked out that mechanical engineers are tasked with designing mechanical things. They basically build machines. Parts of cars and planes included (though you can specialise in Automative and Aeronautical Engineering).

A lot of engineering degrees let you do a little of every discipline in first year, allowing you to decide which type of engineering to graduate with.

Engineering is very hard (and lacks artistic flair). So you might consider a related discipline which is industrial design. Industrial designers will set the way everything from pencils, to computer cases look and are made. Often working in teams with engineers to produce finished products.

Answer 3

in my opinioun i think mechanical engineering for today have the best job ,because this type of engineering can work at so many factoris like ,power plant and manufacturing factories and automotive and petol and communication camopanies also mechanical engineer can work the work of many another engineerers espesialy like electrical engineer and working in IT ,
depend on me i live at kurdistan and i am studing mechanical engineering ,for my country civil engineering has more accuracy ,but mechanical engineer can participate at any work another engineer they are gone do it ,in kurdista because we have the petrol of sea, for this reasons the petrolloum and mechanical engineer have the most sallary ,nearly 3,000 dollar for one week .

Answer 4

our plant manager was a mechanical engineer, actually the last 2 were......we manufacture hardwood floors for semi trailers............id guesstimate......3 times more than what i make......80 to 95 a year