| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements. |
| Importance: 99 (%) | Description: Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Provide technical customer service. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications. |
Bachelor Degree Careers and Jobs (jobs after undergraduate degree)
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with a Bachelor's Degree with or without Certificates - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary and including percentage of job holders with Bachelor's Degree.
A bachelor's degree qualifies graduates for a wide range of professional, technical, and management-track careers across nearly every industry. For people who want to compare where a four-year degree can lead before choosing a major or job. Compare careers ranked by salary, review degree-holder and experience percentages, and access preparation resources for each role.
Here is a short Helper Video 
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Bachelor's Degree, to (1) Select a career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Bachelor's Degree careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Bachelor's Degree Jobs
What jobs can you get with a Bachelor's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are careers related to the Bachelor's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having a Bachelor's Degree. - 223 specific careers are listed, with matching jobs currently available. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those careers that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Bachelor's Degree) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Mechanical Engineers.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Mechanical Engineers" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Mechanical Engineers
Description: 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.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Mechanical Engineers":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
299,200U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
320,100
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
20,900 (7%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
20,200
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition. |
| Importance: 55 (%) | Description: Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution. |
| Importance: 45 (%) | Description: Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact. |
| Importance: 40 (%) | Description: Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges. |
| Importance: 38 (%) | Description: Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints. |
| Importance: 38 (%) | Description: Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering. |
| Importance: 31 (%) | Description: Solicit new business. |
| Importance: 29 (%) | Description: Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Advise customers on the use of products or services. | |
| Advise others regarding green practices or environmental concerns. | |
| Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems. | |
| Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems. | |
| Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans. | |
| Coordinate safety or regulatory compliance activities. | |
| Create images or other visual displays. | |
| Create models of engineering designs or methods. | |
| Design electronic or computer equipment or instrumentation. | |
| Design industrial equipment. | |
| Design industrial processing systems. | |
| Design structures or facilities. | |
| Determine operational methods. | |
| Direct equipment maintenance or repair activities. | |
| Direct industrial production activities. | |
| Direct installation activities. | |
| Document technical design details. | |
| Estimate operational costs. | |
| Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems. | |
| Evaluate plans or specifications to determine technological or environmental implications. | |
| Identify new applications for existing technologies. | |
| Implement design or process improvements. | |
| Install production equipment or systems. | |
| Investigate system, equipment, or product failures. | |
| Perform marketing activities. | |
| Prepare proposal documents. | |
| Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance. | |
| Research industrial processes or operations. | |
| Review technical documents to plan work. | |
| Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects. | |
| Supervise production or support personnel. | |
| Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Technology Design: Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Advise others on business or operational matters. |
| Activity: Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices. |
| Activity: Advise others on products or services. |
| Activity: Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about specifications or project details. |
| Activity: Coordinate regulatory compliance activities. |
| Activity: Coordinate with others to resolve problems. |
| Activity: Create visual designs or displays. |
| Activity: Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment. |
| Activity: Design industrial systems or equipment. |
| Activity: Design structures or facilities. |
| Activity: Determine operational methods or procedures. |
| Activity: Develop models of systems, processes, or products. |
| Activity: Direct construction or extraction activities. |
| Activity: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures. |
| Activity: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities. |
| Activity: Estimate project development or operational costs. |
| Activity: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data. |
| Activity: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies. |
| Activity: Identify business or organizational opportunities. |
| Activity: Implement procedures or processes. |
| Activity: Install commercial or production equipment. |
| Activity: Investigate organizational or operational problems. |
| Activity: Prepare proposals or grant applications. |
| Activity: Promote products, services, or programs. |
| Activity: Read documents or materials to inform work processes. |
| Activity: Research organizational behavior, processes, or performance. |
| Activity: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects. |
| Activity: Supervise personnel activities. |
| Activity: Test performance of equipment or systems. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Computer aided design CAD software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Dassault Systemes SolidWorks | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Python | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widely Used Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Computer aided design CAD software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PTC Creo Parametric | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The MathWorks MATLAB | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Computer aided design CAD software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Bentley MicroStation | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Configuration management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chef Puppet | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base management system software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teradata Database | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Access Microsoft SQL Server | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Development environment software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C Microsoft Visual Basic Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft SharePoint | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAP software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geographic information system: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ESRI ArcGIS software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adobe Illustrator Trimble SketchUp Pro | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C++ Perl R | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating system software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shell script | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Process mapping and design software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Visio | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Project Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Computer aided design CAD software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1CadCam Unigraphics Rapid prototyping software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Configuration management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perforce Helix software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer relationship management CRM software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Dynamics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Development environment software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| IBM Notes Microsoft Exchange | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial analysis software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost estimating software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geographic information system: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geographic information system GIS software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| SmugMug Flickr | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial control software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Computer numerical control CNC software Human machine interface HMI software Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Instant messaging software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blink | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bill of materials software | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| G-code |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
| A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
| Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
| Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 52.3 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 28.6 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.9 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.3 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.3 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.5 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 24.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 20.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 19.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 8 years, up to and including 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 6.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Associate Systems Engineering Professional
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Certified Automation Professional
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Certified Bearing Specialist
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Certified GeoExchange Designer
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Certified GeoExchange Designer
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Certified Ground Water Professional
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Certified Instructor Autodesk Inventor for Mechanical Design
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Certified Plant Maintenance Manager
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Chassis Technician
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Fluid Power Accredited Instructor
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LEED AP Homes
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LEED AP Interior Design + Construction
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LEED AP Neighborhood Development
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LEED AP Operations + Maintenance
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STCW - Chief Engineer 3000 kW/4000 HP or More Management Level
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Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
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Institute for Professional Excellence (IPX)
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International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
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Standard Celeration Society (SCS)
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The Mechanical Power Transmission Association (MPTA)
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Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA)
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Job Listings
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Mechanical Engineers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Mechanical Engineers
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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