What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines and combines engineering, physics, and mathematics principles with material science, to design, analyse, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. A role in mechanical engineering may require you to create small parts such as miniature connectors or big machinery such as wind turbines, and anywhere and everywhere in between. Mechanical engineers are required in every step of bringing a product to the marketplace.
As a Mechanical Engineer, you could be involved in designing anything that has moving parts such as robots, rockets, automobiles, aero planes, power generating plants, refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and systems, automated and computer-controlled machines for industry etc. They also take part in research, development, manufacture, operation of plant and machinery and other mechanical devices.
Mechanical Engineers also work on such projects as solar heating systems, oil pipelines and factory assembly lines.
Typical employers of Mechanical Engineers are, power companies, companies such as Boeing, ASEA Brown Boveri and Mobil. They use their technical design skills in industry to optimise plant and processes with a view to improving the quality and reducing the cost of products.
Career Types
One benefit of a mechanical engineering degree is that they are highly sought after. This will provide you with great job prospects and a broad choice of industries to work in. The automotive, aerospace, electronics, biotechnology and energy industries are big employers of mechanical engineers. It is important to note that certain career paths will require you to specialise in college.
Here are some careers that are currently in high demand and which would require a mechanical engineering degree:
Salary Levels
In 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, the median pay for mechanical engineers was $95,300, or $45.82 per hour. The typical entry level to get work in this field being a Bachelor's degree. Pay fluctuates between the different subtypes. For example, the median 2021 pay for a Nuclear Engineer was $120,380. However, the median pay for a Marine Engineer was $93,370, slightly below the median for Mechanical Engineers.
