Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer Career Overview

Mechanical engineers apply engineering principles of force, energy and motion to the enhancement of safety, economic vitality, enjoyment, overall quality of life, our world and our movement in it. Their work involves the design, analysis, manufacture and upgrading of components, machines, systems and processes. This gives mechanical engineers the opportunity to work with a vast array of exciting applications such as robotics, nanotechnology, turbines, generators, manufacturing plants, aircraft, watercraft and medical devices just to name a few. A contemporary example of mechanical engineering is the construction of the Interstate 35W Minnesota Bridge.

Most mechanical engineering products nowadays rely on the close interaction of mechanics, electronics, control engineering and software engineering, summed up in the term ‘mechatronics’. Mechatronics-based systems focus on the optimization of the behaviour of a technical system through the use of sensors. The new Minnesota Bridge is a prime example of mechatronics at work. Sensors on the bridge constantly measure and collect data on whole the bridge handles loads and vibrations, how it expands and contracts between seasons, traffic flow variations and other sensors on the bridge activate an anti-icing system if necessary.

Mechanical Engineer Training & Education

A Mechanical Engineering degree is definitely required if you wish to start your career as a mechanical engineer and earn a decent starting salary. The leading schools for online engineering degrees are Capella University, Ashford University, Herzing College and ECPI College of Technology Online. You can also earn an online Mechanical Engineering degree at the acclaimed ITT Technical Institute and Penn Foster College. The National Association of Colleges and Employers state the average starting salary of Mechanical Engineers with a Bachelor’s degree is $54,128. Acquiring postgraduate degrees are advisable as they have been proven to be financially rewarding. The average starting salaries of a Mechanical Engineer with a Master’s and Ph.D are $62,798 and $72,763 respectively, a minimum jump of $8,000 yearly. It is also advisable to pursue some professional certifications if you wish to improve your earning potential even further. The median salary of Mechanical Engineers with the Certified Quality Analyst (CQA) certification is a mammoth $95,000. Other certifications for mechanical engineers include Engineer-in-Training (EIT), Project Management Certificate, General Contractor, A+ Service Technician, Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), AutoCAD 2000, the Engineering Management Certification International (EMCI) exam, as well as other certifications earned through societies and fellowships such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Mechanical Engineer Career & Salary

Holding about 227,000 jobs in 2006, mechanical engineers earn annual earnings between $45,000 and $105,000, with yearly average earnings in 2007 of $75,130 according to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unfortunately however, job growth for mechanical engineers is expected to be slower than the average for all careers, with a meager growth rate of 4%, through 2016.

Similar with the vast majority of careers, work experience in mechanical engineering greatly increases your earnings potential. Mechanical engineers with over ten years working experience have a median salary of about $85,000, increasing to close to $100,000 with 10 additional years of experience. The Design Engineering Manager, responsible for the coordination and management of employees engaged in the design and development of new or modified products, is one of the highest paying jobs in the Mechanical Engineering field with an average starting salary of $91,133. California and Michigan pay Mechanical Engineers median yearly earnings of over $76,000, the highest compared with a number of other states. The highest paying industries for mechanical engineers are aerospace, defense, and energy/utilities. Each pays a median yearly salary of over $60,000. These industries would include companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Honeywell International and BHP Biliton.

Characteristics of Mechanical Engineers

People who will succeed in this career would be highly motivated and willing to constantly learn in order to stay abreast with the constant stream of new breakthroughs in mechanical engineering technology. This will also involve seeking licensing and certification at a state, provincial or national level to remain recognized professionally and to ensure you are authorized to work on certain engineering tasks such as the design of bridges and electric power plants . A truly exciting career with a future full of breakthroughs and new specializations, mechanical engineering can be very rewarding to you if you can keep up with its rapid rate of change.