Mechanical engineers held about 251,700 jobs in 2009. More than 2 out of 5 were in manufacturing, primarily in machinery, transportation equipment, electrical equipment, instruments and fabricated metal products industries. Engineering and management services, business services, and the federal government provided most of the remaining jobs.
Mechanical Engineering Employment Outlook
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all non-engineering occupations though 2012. Although overall manufacturing employment is expected to grow slowly, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase more rapidly as the demand for improved machinery and machine tools grows... and industrial machinery and processes become increasingly complex. Also, emerging technologies in IT, biotechnology, and nanotechnology will continue to create new job opportunities for Mechanical Engineers.
Employment of mechanical engineers in business and engineering services firms is expected to grow slightly faster than average - as companies increasingly outsource mechanical engineering functions. In addition to job openings from growth, many openings should result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Mechanical Engineering Salaries
The middle 50% earned between $55,140 and $89,840. The lowest 10% earned less than $43,820, and the highest 10% earned more than $112,310. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of mechanical engineers in 2009 were:
Federal government: $68,340
Engineering and architectural services: $68,720
Motor vehicles and equipment: $68,990
Construction and related machinery: $63,850
Manufacturing: $74,180
In 2009 B,S.M.E. graduates in mechanical engineering received starting offers averaging $58,610 a year, M.S. Mechanical Engineering candidates had offers averaging $66,390, and new Ph.D.'s averaged $85,160.
