Mechanical Engineering Degree
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Table of Contents
All universities will expect those applying for mechanical engineering degrees to have a strong academic background in mathematics and physics, with other sciences such as chemistry being beneficial.
A mechanical engineering degree offers a wide range of specializations to choose from. At the undergraduate level, students will start with courses in statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, stress analysis, mechanical design and technical drawing. As the student progresses, there will be opportunities to specialize in a particular field within which mechanical engineering skills are applied, such as vehicle design, robotics, nanotechnology or energy.
Mechanical Engineering Careers
The career trajectory of people with a Mechanical Engineering degree appears to be focused around a few careers. The most common career that users with Mechanical Engineering degrees have experience in is Mechanical Engineer, followed by Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Mechatronics Engineer, Robotics Engineer, Sales Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Construction Manager, and Drafter.
| Career | % of graduates | % of population | Multiple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | 19.1% | 0.4% | 45.7× | ||
| Engineer | 5.0% | 1.0% | 5.0× | ||
| Aerospace Engineer | 3.2% | 0.1% | 42.0× | ||
| Industrial Engineer | 4.8% | 0.1% | 47.5× | ||
| Mechatronics Engineer | 2.9% | 0.0% | 83.4× | ||
| Robotics Engineer | 2.2% | 0.1% | 26.6× | ||
| Sales Engineer | 3.2% | 0.2% | 20.2× | ||
| Petroleum Engineer | 2.5% | 0.0% | 59.6× | ||
| Construction Manager | 1.7% | 0.2% | 8.7× | ||
| Drafter | 2.0% | 0.2% | 10.7× | ||
Mechanical Engineering Salary
Mechanical Engineering graduates earn on average $60k, putting them in the 90th percentile of earners with a degree.
| Percentile | Earnings after graduation ($1000s USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (bottom earners) | $48k | |
| Median (average earners) | $60k | |
| 75th (top earners) | $70k | |
Mechanical Engineering Underemployment
Mechanical Engineering graduates are highly employed compared to other graduates. We have collected data on three types of underemployment. Part-time refers to work that is less than 30 hours per week. Non-college refers to work that does not require a college degree. Low-paying includes a list of low-wage service jobs such as janitorial work, serving, or dishwashing.
| Employment Type | Proportion of graduates | |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs that don't require college | 24% | |
| Part-Time | 16% | |
| Low-paying | 4% | |
