Occupations/17-2141.00
Mechanical Engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
61%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
48%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
46%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- Mostly routine
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- Task
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
- 04Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 05Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.05
- Degree of automation2.01
- Time sitting3.81
- Originality (ability)3.38
- Conflict situations2.79
- Hands-on objects/tools2.21
- Outdoors / weather1.96
- Disease exposure1.39
- Decision freedom4.25
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Problem Sensitivity4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Inductive Reasoning4.00
- Deductive Reasoning4.00
- Near Vision3.88
- Mathematical Reasoning3.88
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.88
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.38
- Speaking3.38
- Mathematics3.75
- Science3.75
- Critical Thinking3.88
- Active Learning3.50
- Learning Strategies2.88
- Monitoring3.25
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 55 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $77,966 2 yr $78,343 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $17,700 | 18% | 93% | 1 yr $77,283 2 yr $76,070 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $76,711 2 yr $74,038 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $76,146 2 yr $75,518 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $74,244 2 yr $67,420 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr $73,406 2 yr $73,697 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $73,123 2 yr $73,052 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $72,483 2 yr $71,255 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
Houston Community College Houston, TX · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $4,300 | 100% | 24% | 1 yr $72,373 2 yr $71,202 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $72,022 2 yr $63,600 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public | Engineering Mechanics 14.1101 | $17,500 | 45% | 85% | 1 yr $71,486 2 yr $74,307 Bachelor's · CIP 14.11 |
Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $63,600 | 7% | 93% | 1 yr $69,490 2 yr $66,377 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |