Mechanical Engineering Degrees and Career Education

Mechanical engineers deal with virtually any equipment or device that functions mechanically. This covers a very wide range of territory, and often overlaps other engineering fields and disciplines. Mechanical engineers might cooperate with electrical engineers, for example, in the design, testing or maintenance of equipment that generates electrical power, or with electrical and civil engineers in designing and constructing a seaport or an airport, or to determine the requirements for elevators, gas, water, and heating and air conditioning in a skyscraper. The most unique aspect of this branch of engineering is that the mechanical engineer is often responsible for designing the tools used by other engineers in their functions.

Education, Training and Degrees in Mechanical Engineering

Virtually all entry-level positions in the engineering industry require at least a bachelor's degree to qualify, and an advanced degree is mandatory for many research, management and teaching positions. At this time, more than 360 colleges in the U.S. have accredited programs leading to a B.S. in an engineering discipline. In addition, approximately 230 colleges currently offer associate degrees in engineering technology, a discipline which is oriented more toward practical application than theory, and which allows the engineering student to begin working in the field earlier. As in any profession, the more advanced and specific the degree, the higher the potential salary and the greater the chances for success.

In addition to a degree, all states require that engineers be licensed. This licensing is accomplished by meeting specific requirements which usually include a significant term of on-the-job experience (often as long as four years) and passing a detailed exam administered by the relevant state department. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the engineer is formally recognized by the state as a licensed Professional Engineer.

Find out more information on Engineering degrees and certifications.

Explore Career Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering

According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, more than 1.4 million people were employed in all engineering fields in 2004, of which about 226,000, or 15.6 percent, were mechanical engineers. The Department of Labor predicts that, overall, mechanical engineering jobs will grow at a rate comparable with all other industries over the next decade.

Salaries and wages for mechanical engineers can differ widely depending on such factors as location, the state of the economy, and the education level of the jobholder. The average salary for a mechanical engineer in 2004 was $62,320, with a range running from a low of under $43,900 to a high of more than $97,850.

Below are a few of the most popular specializations in the field of mechanical engineering.

Product Development
Mechanical engineers in this function play a key role in designing new equipment which contains mechanical or moving parts. These engineers design devices that are safe, reliable, and efficient, which meet specific functional requirements, and which fulfill a need for home and industry.

Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineers design aircraft and satellites, and the mechanical parts included in them, such as flight controls, housings, and internal moving parts, among many other tasks.

Quality Engineer
Quality engineers are more interested in process than in design. They contribute to every phase of the development and manufacture of new equipment, monitoring, testing and analyzing to ensure that the end result conforms to its technical specifications and to the quality standards originally set for it.

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