Mechanical Engineering Salary

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SALARY GUIDE

Mechanical Engineering Salary

General mechanical engineering salary

Many factors affect mechanical engineering salary, including education, industry experience, as well as unique skills or training. High-paying industries include aerospace, government research, and computer equipment manufacturing. Advanced studies is a sure route to greater earnings, which is also true in most professions. Engineers engaged in research and development normally get paid more than those occupying manufacturing positions.

The middle 50 percent of mechanical engineers earn anywhere from $55,680 to $89,910. The highest 10 percent group reportedly earns over $112,740. Top employers of mechanical engineers and their corresponding median annual salaries include: the federal government ($68,770); engineering and architectural services ($69,150); motor vehicles and equipment ($72,190); construction and related machinery ($67,380); and manufacturing ($71,930).

A mechanical engineering salary for new BSME graduates averages $59,180. Graduates armed with BSME degrees can start their career making an average mechanical engineering salary of $59,180. Those with MSME degrees can command an average starting salary of $66,720 while their PhD-armed counterparts stand to earn as much as $85,640.

Benefits typically include health insurance, dental insurance, vacation, 401k match or profit sharing, and sick leave. Engineers are at times rewarded with bonuses for their patent-eligible inventions and other notable accomplishments.
Accompanying the financial compensation and fringe benefits are countless opportunities for professional advancement in the field. Other sectors such as consulting, the academe, manufacturing, government or military research, law, and management also open new routes to success.

In-house or third-party training provided by employers also add up to push the mechanical engineering salary threshold even higher. Still another salary-boosting strategy is to join industries such as government research, aerospace, and computer hardware manufacturing where pay rates are supposedly higher than average.

Mechanical engineering mostly leads the way in technological and scientific development. Engineers are thus expected to constantly update their industry knowledge through special courses or further education. In fact, there are companies that even finance their engineers’ higher studies in hopes that doing so would lead to greater know-how and better job performance.

Most practitioners accept and fulfill such academic and training requirements, and this commitment to further education is somehow driving mechanical engineering salary to higher levels.

Job expectations and challenges

Mechanical engineers research, design, and test mechanical systems, products, and processes for nearly every major sector of the economy. Mechanical engineers must preserve and enhance current products, devise manufacturing techniques, and render various engineering services. They may also have to do technical writing, coordinate supplier communication, manage projects, and even oversee sales and customer service. They perform all these duties and responsibilities with the end in view of earning the commensurate mechanical engineering salary.

More Mechanical Engineering Jobs

Manufacturing, specifically the machinery, transportation equipment, electrical equipment, instruments and fabricated metal sectors, are the top employers, claiming more than two out of five mechanical engineers. Other major employers include engineering and management services firms, business service providers, and the federal government.

The next 10 years will see more robust demand for mechanical engineers, as outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to China will most likely decline following its surge in the past three decades, as a result of social and economic developments in the Asian nation. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts a 6 percent population growth for mechanical engineering in the 2008-2018 period, which is a bit lower than the growth projection for all occupations. The mechanical engineer average salary is thus expected to hold steady or even increase, given surging demand and minimal growth.

Degrees needed mechanical engineers

A four-year bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a similar program earned from an accredited university is the first step toward a mechanical engineering career which yields very a lucrative mechanical engineering salary . Still another option is a Master’s degree in Business Administration, which is commonly pursued by engineers desiring executive positions that are more strategic than technical in nature. Regardless of what degree is obtained, training in special skills such as CAD software will still come in handy.

A professional engineer’s license or registration may be a pre-requisite to providing public engineering services, but this may not be the case in all states. In certain states, a designated Professional Engineer has legal protection and is thus held legally responsible for all documents with his or her signature.

I will be adding more articles soon covering a the following topics: Civil Engineer Salary, Robotics Engineer Salary, Computer Engineer Salary, Electrical Engineer Salary, Aerospace Engineer Salary, Architect Salary, Mechanical Engineering Jobs and Mechanical Engineer Average Salary since they are related topics. Stay tuned and come back soon. Please share this mechanical engineering salary article with people you know that might be interested in this career.

Mechanical Engineering Salary

Mechanical Engineering Jobs: Opportunities in Virtually Every Industry

Mechanical Engineering Jobs

There are countless mechanical engineering jobs awaiting mechanical engineers in practically every industry. Aspirants and practitioners alike may choose from the many opportunities available in manufacturing-oriented industries, and others such as automotive, construction, aerospace, chemical, computer, communication, medical, paper, and power generation. Similarly, the environmental and bio-medical sectors are providing a great number of graduate mechanical engineering jobs. No doubt mechanical engineering plays a crucial role in the development of almost every product or service in the modern world.

With the aid of engineering principles, mechanical engineers devise ways to develop products and processes—from the smallest components to the largest, most powerful factories, machinery, equipment, and vehicles. They are involved in practically all phases of production, namely, research and development, design and manufacture, and installation and implementation. The mechanical engineering job may also entail people and resource management, and the design of new materials and technologies.

Mechanical engineering jobs also require a thorough understanding of such principles as mechanics, thermodynamics and structural analysis. Aside from manufacturing-related opportunities, practitioners can penetrate the scientific sphere, specifically emerging disciplines such as robotics, nanotechnology, and medical machinery.

In May 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the average mechanical engineering salary for practitioners with a college degree at $82,480.

Mechanical Engineering Jobs in Various Industries

Mechanical engineering jobs in the manufacturing industry involve the development and launching of companies’ products and services. They may also involve the design and maintenance of equipment needed to ensure operational efficiency.

The design industry is another rich source of jobs for mechanical engineering. Engineers in this domain are tasked to develop products and equipment, translate ideas to actual designs to ultimately create a finished product. They rely on computer-aided design (CAD) programs to help them model and test their designs before they turn them into actual products.

Mechanical engineers may also consider consulting mechanical engineering jobs, particularly by setting up and managing their own companies or by joining a consulting firm. Many companies hire the services of mechanical engineering consultants, seeking their advice on mechanical engineering projects and manpower requirements. Such consultants may eventually be hired by these companies, on a per-project or full-time basis.

Also key providers of jobs in mechanical engineering are the U.S. military and government. The military commissions mechanical engineers to design and produce the necessary aircraft and other heavy equipment and machinery. It also puts them in charge of military equipment maintenance in times of war and peace. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in particular, needs mechanical engineers to help design manned and unmanned spacecraft such as shuttles and satellites.

Mechanical Engineers’ Duties and Responsibilities

More specifically, the mechanical engineering job description involves the formulation and execution of cost-efficient equipment modifications to enhance safety, reliability, and productivity. Collaborating with fellow engineers and other colleagues, mechanical engineers develop project specifications as well as test and evaluate theoretical designs. They also work closely with manufacturing departments, sub-contractors, suppliers and customers to examine and resolve complex design and production issues, ensuring that products can be manufactured and will function reliably in specified operating environments.

Using engineering principles and techniques, mechanical engineers manage projects, plan and develop new and more effective manufacturing processes, formulate details of specifications and outline designs, and introduce modifications based on prototype test results. Research, analytical, conceptual, and planning skills as well as mathematical modeling and computer-aided design are among the most critical requirements of mechanical engineering jobs.

Mechanical Engineering Jobs

What is Mechanical Engineering All About? Discover What the Field Involves

What is Mechanical Engineering

‘What is mechanical engineering?’ is the first question that young people dreaming of a mechanical engineering career must ask and seek answers to.

Mechanical engineering uses physical or scientific principles to develop devices, equipment, and machinery needed in today’s world. Heat, force, and mass and energy conservation are but a few of the principles that mechanical engineers use to evaluate static and dynamic physical systems. In turn, these systems aid in the development of automobiles, aircraft, heating and cooling systems, household appliances, industrial equipment and machinery, weapons, and other modern devices.

What is Mechanical Engineering Concerned With?

People bent on finding answers to the question ‘What is mechanical engineering?’ must investigate its various sub-branches and applications.

Mechanical engineering involves the development, research, evaluation, and manufacture of mechanical and mechatronicsystems, automated systems, manufacturing equipment, process plants, and robotic devices. It also focuses on the installation, testing, operation, and maintenance of these systems and equipment as well as those of equally important systems such as heat transfer processes, thermodynamic and combustion, fluid and thermal energy, and materials and materials handling.

What is mechanical engineering all about? Mechanical engineering plays a key role in major industries and sectors including mining, minerals processing, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive, aviation, and aerospace. Its principles are also widely applied in the fields of bulk handling, communications, health, construction, power generation and distribution, water and waste, and natural gas distribution. Mechanical engineers’ expertise is also valuable in such public service industries as road transport, rail transport, shipping, shipbuilding, defense, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and food processing.

To improve product or equipment performance as well as cost and energy efficiencies, companies require their mechanical engineers to do simulations of a device’s or equipment’s operation and the production process involved. Only after such simulations are performed and evaluated can a proposed design be finalized.

The field also requires the creation of engineering drawings of the product or equipment to be developed. For this task, engineers rely on digital computers with graphical user interface to create models and drawings using Computer Aided Design programs. Companies can use these 3D models to guide them in conducting Finite Element Analysis and evaluating the Computational Fluid Dynamics of the design.

Mechanical engineering encompasses a vast range of subjects that includes dynamics, statics, strength of materials, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, control theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, mechatronics, and applied thermodynamics. A thorough knowledge of principles applied in the fields of chemistry and electrical engineering are also required of mechanical engineers.

Educational Requirements and Compensation

Students searching for answers to the question ‘What is mechanical engineering?’ should take the time to research the kind of education they need and the compensation the field offers before they make a decision. Almost all mechanical engineering jobs require no less than a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineering programs offered by most schools cover subjects such as system modeling, project management, finite elements, advanced mechanics, machine dynamics, and machine systems design. After graduation, students must obtain a professional engineer license to be able to provide public engineering services.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected a 6 percent growth for mechanical engineering employment in the 2008-2018 timeframe. However, developments in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and materials science could spell new job opportunities.

According to BLS, the average mechanical engineering salary stood at $82,480 in May 2010.

All these information should adequately answer the question ‘What is Mechanical Engineering?’

What is Mechanical Engineering

Top Mechanical Engineering Colleges: The Road to a Rewarding Career

Best Mechanical Engineering Colleges

Mechanical engineering colleges provide the strong academic foundation that aspirants need to penetrate and succeed in the challenging yet rewarding mechanical engineering arena. These institutions introduce students to modern engineering methods and technologies, teaching them how to develop mechanical equipment and systems needed in today’s world. Most importantly, it is at mechanical engineering colleges where aspirants learn the skills they need to meet the design and production demands posed by various mechanical engineering jobs.

How Mechanical Engineering Colleges Train Aspiring Engineers

At a mechanical engineering college, students are trained in such areas as product specifications development and detailed drawing preparation. They learn how to ensure the safety and reliability of product designs, devise effective solutions to both practical and technical problems, and test and determine product components and product efficiency.

Subjects taken up at mechanical engineering colleges include calculus, biology, physics, fluid mechanics, technical writing, and computer aided design. These subjects and others familiarize enrollees with research principles, product design and development, manufacturing and testing methodologies, operation, and maintenance.

Students of mechanical engineering colleges may choose to pursue one or more of several programs, namely, Associate of Science (AS), Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS), and Doctorate (PhD) degrees in mechanical engineering. Engineering subjects such as energy sciences and technologies, applied mechanics, thermal sciences, and design are at the heart of these programs’ curricula.

Students working toward BS degrees at a college for mechanical engineering will obtain the knowhow and training they need in preparation for jobs in various engineering disciplines. To complete a four- or five year degree program, they must attend classes in liberal arts and sciences, build their scientific knowledge, and develop the required product design and development skills.

MS and PhD programs offered by colleges for mechanical engineering, on the other hand, involve more intensive research as well as completion of a thesis. More specifically, they equip students with the skills needed to assume higher positions and greater responsibilities at work. Those who complete higher studies are usually picked to occupy sales and management posts as their strong engineering background enable them to clearly discuss with clients such technical matters as product design, use, planning, implementation, and installation.

The best colleges for mechanical engineering in the U.S. include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Berkeley, University of Michigan, Georgia Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Kettering University, Cooper Union, California Polytechnic State University, and Harvey Mudd College.

Choosing the Right Mechanical Engineering Colleges

Extensive research and investigation should be the starting point for those looking for the best mechanical engineering colleges. They must also assess their skills and interests, determine which area they wish to specialize in, then select and review the schools that offer programs that correspond to their area of interest.

School seekers must also ascertain that the mechanical engineering colleges they are eyeing have accreditation. It would be best to look at their tuition and curriculum schedules as some of them offer financial or tuition assistance to qualified enrollees and flexible payment schemes.

Open houses and other special events organized by top mechanical engineering colleges give new and prospective enrollees the chance to interact with current students and faculty members and check the school’s facilities.

It would also be wise to seek advice from engineers practicing in one’s area of interest, or from graduates of the school being considered.

Finally, those who wish to pursue a degree from home may check out the mechanical engineering colleges offering online degree programs.

Mechanical Engineering Colleges

Top Mechanical Engineering Schools: Preparing, Molding Future Engineers

Top Mechanical Engineering Schools

Mechanical engineering schools lay the strong foundation in math and science that students need to be able to join and succeed in the engineering sphere. The subjects they teach equip enrollees for a variety of engineering jobs responsible for the design of products, equipment, and systems that power today’s world.

At a mechanical engineering school, students gain a clear understanding of the engineering design process used in the development and operation of various mechanical tools, equipment, and devices. They gain mastery of such critical engineering disciplines as mechanics, thermodynamics, hydraulics, and physics. All these they achieve through education that involves scientific, theoretical, and practical training.

Degrees Obtained from Top Mechanical Engineering Schools

A bachelor’s degree is required of every individual wishing to become a mechanical engineer. An associate’s degree offered by certain mechanical engineering schools may be suitable though for those eying a supplementary career or a job in a related field. Associate’s degree programs may cover such areas as construction technology, engineering, software, and technical writing. They teach students vital skills such as prototype development, materials maintenance, machinery testing, and construction site surveying.

Students working toward a bachelor’s degree program, on the other hand, learn the rudiments of designing components and devices needed by systems and equipment. Courses and subjects that make up the curricula of top mechanical engineering schools prepare students for the demands and challenges of engineering work. They teach such skills as system design, problem solving, and system control, and familiarize enrollees with mechanical systems development and testing.

Mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree programs require the completion of such general subjects as math, physical and life sciences, humanities, and introductory engineering. While most of these subjects are heavy on theories, there are design courses and computer or laboratory classes that provide hands-on training. Students usually complete engineering-specific subjects after the first two years.

Most undergraduate degree programs offered by the best mechanical engineering schools cover general subjects that may be explored further by those who pursue post-graduate studies. Examples of these courses are engineering graphics including computer aided design software and drawing, and thermodynamics, which covers statistical concepts such as Bose-Einstein and Boltzmann, internal energy, and absolute temperature.

A viable alternative for those who do not have the time or resources to pursue a bachelor’s degree are the two- or four-year degree programs in engineering technology available at some schools for mechanical engineering. More practical than theoretical, these programs feature laboratory classes that enable students to apply engineering principles and resolve current engineering issues, effectively preparing them for actual design and production work.

Students working to obtain a master’s degree may choose a field of specialization during the course of their study. They take up highly specialized subjects such as robotics and biomechanics, and gain mastery of computer aided design, computation, materials processing, and vibration theory. Post-graduate students take the time to expand their knowledge in a specific area in hopes of landing the best mechanical engineering jobs.

Meanwhile, students enrolled in PhD degree programs at top mechanical engineering graduate schools learn complicated calculations that will enable them to develop programs needed in the creation of models for devices. These programs also prepare candidates to occupy leadership posts.

Aspirants may also look into various online bachelor’s degree programs in engineering offered by both mechanical engineering schools online and campus-based mechanical engineering schools.

Mechanical Engineering Design: Ensuring Product Reliability

Mechanical Engineering Design

Mechanical engineering design, one of the top branches of mechanical engineering, involves the development of plans for mechanical equipment and devices as well as consumer goods. From these designs spring actual products, processes, and services.

Duties and Responsibilities Associated with Mechanical Engineering Design

Using the appropriate engineering principles, those engaged in mechanical design engineering develop or modify products, and evaluate the feasibility of designs based on costs, time constraints, planning, and other technical and economic considerations. Mechanical engineering design jobs also require engineering studies on product designs, associated and subsystem components, and other structures. It involves in-depth analyses of engineering proposals, process requirements, and design-related technical data.

Mechanical design engineers also employ engineering principles to design, modify, or develop facilities, machines, equipment, testing methods, and other processes. They pursue analytical studies on engineering proposals on designs for products such as engines, equipment, machines, associated and subsystem components, and structures.

Computer-assisted mechanical engineering design software and equipment are vital in mechanical engineering design. Aided by such tools, engineers analyze data to assess the viability of product proposals, and evaluate product specifications and performance requirements to find out which particular designs can be replicated using existing production facilities and processes. They also review engineering proposals, process requirements, and pertinent technical data on industrial machinery and equipment design.

Engineers holding mechanical design engineering jobs also evaluate the feasibility of designing new factory equipment or upgrading existing facilities based on various technical and economic factors. As needed, they work closely with research personnel to discuss and resolve design issues. They spearhead the preparation of product or system layouts, detailed illustrations, and schematics as well as the development of product or system prototypes.

The development of experimental test programs falls under the mechanical engineering design branch. It works toward the prevention or elimination of defects in new and existing products, specifically by analyzing test data to ascertain whether designs meet functional and performance requirements. Finally, mechanical design engineers evaluate engineering test results to see whether they can be applied to the development of systems and other purposes.

Education and Employment Opportunities

Mechanical engineering design extensively uses computer aided design (CAD) tools, which allow engineers to analyze their mechanical engineering designs from various angles by rotating them on the computer screen. Such tools also enable the simulation of the possible effects of various elements on the designs and the modification of designs as needed.

Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills are critical in the mechanical engineering design field as it involves work with different sets and kinds of people.

Aside from earning a degree in mechanical engineering, aspirants wishing to specialize in engineering mechanical design must take courses such as graphics, design for manufacturing, mechanical engineering design, power plant design, and CAD.

Mechanical design engineers can find many job opportunities in the construction, consumer goods, automotive, and manufacturing industries. While some are employed by one company to develop new or upgrade existing processes and technologies, others choose to join consulting firms or set up their own consultancies in order to pursue design projects in mechanical engineering with various businesses.

As of May 2008, mechanical design engineers had an average mechanical engineering salary of $74,920, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Engineers specializing in mechanical engineering design may be given alternative jobs titles such as drafter, designer, design engineer, and principal designer.

Mechanical Engineering Design

Mechanical Engineering Internships: A Glimpse Into the Engineering World

Mechanical Engineering Internships

Mechanical engineering internships are widely available at leading mechanical engineering institutes as well as engineering and manufacturing firms worldwide. Students and applicants may refer to various sources such as online websites, forums, and academic counselors who can provide the necessary information and instructions on how to find and apply for such internships.

Benefits of and Requirements for Mechanical Engineering Internships

A mechanical engineering internship gives both students and degree holders a clearer picture of the engineering workplace–its systems, challenges, demands, and rewards. It can also serve as a stepping stone to full-time jobs that may eventually open up within the sponsoring company.

Today mechanical engineering summer internships are the most popular means by which aspiring mechanical engineers obtain the necessary training and work experience. Mostly offered to students boasting outstanding academic achievement, these internships serve as the easiest and surest route to gainful employment in their areas of interest. Some aspirants who successfully complete these internship programs are fortunate enough to be hired for full-time jobs even before they earn their college degrees.

The importance of education can never be underestimated, especially since employers still favor applicants armed with a solid knowledge of various engineering principles. However, the real-world experience that these mechanical engineering internships afford is just as crucial to penetrating and excelling in the mechanical engineering world.

Students applying for internships in mechanical engineering must provide sponsoring organizations or companies relevant background information, specifically knowledge, education, and training related to mechanical engineering. They should also indicate in their application letters and resumes previous engineering-related work experience, scholarships, volunteer work, association and organization memberships, and relevant interests.

Many companies offer attractive mechanical engineering salary for entry-level jobs, particularly if the candidates have completed the company-sponsored internships mechanical engineering. These firms are determined to take part in the education and training process of bright and promising engineering students in hopes of benefiting from their skills and knowhow should they hire them in the future. To make sure they get the most deserving and competent candidates, most of them conduct qualifying tests for all internship applicants.

Most internships for mechanical engineering students are temporary work assignments that last for several months, beginning at the end of the school year (during summer break) or immediately after graduation from college. Those still working toward their degrees usually take on these internships as a form of part-time employment.

Most mechanical engineering internships offer only allowance or stipends. A mechanical engineering intern who does not get any salary or stipend may get reimbursements for food, communication, and travel expenses.

Mechanical engineering internships may not be available all year round and in all locations, but with enough research and effort as well as through networking, students and graduates may find the most rewarding programs. It would also be wise to join professional associations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to gain new professional connections. Among the major companies that provide mechanical engineering internships are Mercedes-Benz, Rogers Machine Tools, Owens Design, Campbell Engineering, and Applied Thermal Technologies Inc.

It is important to find and take part in effective mechanical engineering internships as these may well serve as the best launching pad for a successful mechanical engineering career.

Mechanical Engineering Internships

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Mechanical Engineering Salary