How to Become a Mechanical Engineer
Design, develop, and test mechanical devices and systems. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $104,110 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$104,110/yr
Middle half
$84,130 to $132,590
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
18,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- CAD
- Thermodynamics
- Materials Science
- Problem Solving
- Mathematics
Helpful certifications
- PE (Professional Engineer)
- FE (Fundamentals of Engineering)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
42/100
Work-life balance
68/100
Stress level
38/100
Satisfaction
76/100
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
- Petroleum Engineer$144,910 median
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make?
The median pay for a Mechanical Engineer is $104,110 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $84,130 and $132,590 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Mechanical Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, and Applied Physics.
Is Mechanical Engineer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 18,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Mechanical Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are CAD, Thermodynamics, Materials Science, Problem Solving, and Mathematics.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).