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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC: 11-9041 Occupation: Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 210,340 | 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 |
Mechanical Engineers SOC: 17-2141 Occupation: Mechanical Engineers | $102,320 | 286,760 | N/A | N/A |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1032 Occupation: Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,120 | 39,910 | 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 |