The Mechanical Engineering major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Engineering, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Engineering, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical Engineers SOC: 17-2141 Occupation: Mechanical Engineers | $102,320 | 286,760 | N/A | N/A |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC: 11-9041 Occupation: Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 210,340 | N/A | N/A |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1032 Occupation: Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,120 | 39,910 | N/A | N/A |
Cost Estimators SOC: 13-1051 Occupation: Cost Estimators | $77,070 | 219,530 | N/A | N/A |
Aerospace Engineers SOC: 17-2011 Occupation: Aerospace Engineers | $134,830 | 68,440 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $102,320 | 286,760 |
| 2023 | $99,510 | 281,290 |
| 2022 | $96,310 | 277,560 |
| 2021 | $95,300 | 278,240 |
| 2020 | $90,160 | 293,960 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $167,740 | 210,340 |
| 2023 | $165,370 | 207,800 |
| 2022 | $159,920 | 197,180 |
| 2021 | $152,350 | 187,100 |
| 2020 | $149,530 | 195,900 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $106,120 | 39,910 |
| 2023 | $106,910 | 38,370 |
| 2022 | $103,550 | 36,010 |
| 2021 | $104,940 | 35,440 |
| 2020 | $103,600 | 38,520 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $77,070 | 219,530 |
| 2023 | $74,740 | 220,970 |
| 2022 | $71,200 | 225,310 |
| 2021 | $65,170 | 208,950 |
| 2020 | $66,610 | 199,360 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $134,830 | 68,440 |
| 2023 | $130,720 | 66,660 |
| 2022 | $126,880 | 61,580 |
| 2021 | $122,270 | 56,640 |
| 2020 | $118,610 | 60,630 |