MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

Nature of the Work

Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical equipment.  They design and develop power-producing machines such as internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, and jet and rocket engines.  They also design and develop power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, robots, machine tools, materials handling systems, and industrial production equipment.

The work of mechanical engineers varies by industry and function.  Specialties include, among others, applied mechanics, design engineering, heat transfer, power plant engineering, pressure vessels and piping, and underwater technology.  Mechanical engineers design tools needed by other engineers for their work.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

A bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited engineering program is usually required for beginning engineering jobs.  College graduates with a degree in a physical science or mathematics may occasionally qualify for some engineering jobs, especially in engineering specialties in high demand.  Most engineering degrees are granted in branches such as electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering.  However, engineers trained in one branch may work in another.  This flexibility allows employers to meet staffing needs in new technologies and specialties in short supply.  It also allows engineers to shift to fields with better employment prospects, or ones that match their interests more closely.

Job Outlook

Employment of mechanical engineers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.  Although overall employment in manufacturing is expected to decline, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase as the demand for machinery and machine tools grows and industrial machinery and processes become increasingly complex.  Employment of mechanical engineers in other sectors of the economy, such as construction and services, is expected to grow faster than average as firms in these industries learn to apply these engineers' skills.

Earnings

Starting salaries for engineers with the bachelor's degree are significantly higher than starting salaries of bachelor's degree graduates in other fields.  According to the College Placement Council, engineering graduates with a bachelor's degree averaged about $34,000 a year in private industry in 1992; those with a master's degree and no experience, $39,200 a year; and those with a Ph.D., $54,400.  The average starting salary for mechanical engineers was $34,462.

Sources of Additional Information

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E.  47th St., New York, NY 10017.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle NE., Atlanta, GA 30329.


