Mechanical engineers held about 253,800 jobs in 2008. 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 $54,790 and $89,700. The lowest 10% earned less than $43,580, and the highest 10% earned more than $111,170. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of mechanical engineers in 2008 were:
Federal government: $67,810
Engineering and architectural services: $69,520
Motor vehicles and equipment: $70,130
Construction and related machinery: $62,450
Manufacturing: $75,360
In 2008 B,S.M.E. graduates in mechanical engineering received starting offers averaging $58,420 a year, M.S. Mechanical Engineering candidates had offers averaging $64,710, and new Ph.D.'s averaged $84,300.
