Mechanical engineer

What does a mechanical engineer do?

• Design parts, products and machines using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Analyse stresses, heat flow and fluid movement with calculations and computer simulations.
• Build and test prototypes, then improve designs based on the results.
• Choose materials and manufacturing methods that balance cost, safety and performance.
• Solve problems with equipment in factories, power plants and buildings.
• Write technical reports, specifications and instructions for other teams.
• Check that products meet safety standards and regulations.

Where do they work?

Mechanical engineers work in almost every industry that makes or runs physical things, including vehicles, aircraft, energy, machinery, consumer products, medical devices, building services and defence. Most divide their time between an office, where they design and analyse, and workshops, test facilities or factory floors. Some roles involve travel to customer sites, power plants or offshore installations. Working hours are usually regular, but deadlines and equipment failures can lead to extra hours.

What skills do you need?

• Mechanics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics
• CAD and simulation software
• Mathematics and physics
• Materials and manufacturing processes
• Testing and data analysis
• Practical problem solving
• Project management
• Technical communication

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• use technical drawing software
• perform scientific research
• adjust engineering designs
• approve engineering design

Essential knowledge: engineering principles · mechanical engineering · engineering processes · technical drawings · mechanics

How do you become a mechanical engineer?

Most mechanical engineers have a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, or in a closely related subject such as aerospace or manufacturing engineering. In many countries the degree takes four years, and a bachelor's followed by a master's is common in much of Europe. Practical experience matters: internships, student racing or robotics teams and final-year projects help you stand out. After graduating, many engineers join a graduate scheme and build supervised experience towards chartered or licensed status. Physics graduates and technicians with vocational qualifications can also move into mechanical engineering, usually through further study.

1. University degree. An accredited degree in mechanical engineering covers mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, design and control. Many programmes include laboratory work, group projects and a year or summer in industry. An accredited degree is the most direct way to later professional registration, and countries that have signed the Washington Accord recognise one another's accredited degrees as broadly comparable.
2. Apprenticeship or technician route. In countries with strong vocational systems, such as Germany, Switzerland and the UK, you can train as a mechanical or manufacturing technician while you work. Some employers then support you through a part-time degree or a degree apprenticeship. This route takes longer to reach engineer level, but it gives you strong practical skills and lets you earn while you learn.
3. Related degree and master's. Graduates in physics, mathematics or another engineering field can move into mechanical roles, especially in analysis or testing. A master's degree in mechanical engineering helps fill gaps in design and manufacturing knowledge and can support later professional registration. Employers usually expect you to show practical design or laboratory experience as well.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Mechanical engineering

  A mechanical engineering degree teaches how to design, analyse and make machines and systems that move or use energy, from engines and robots to medical devices and power plants.

  5 linked careers

• Aerospace engineering

  An aerospace engineering degree teaches how to design, build and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and their systems, using mathematics, physics and computer modelling.

  4 linked careers

• Physics

  A physics degree explores the laws that govern the universe, from particles and atoms to materials, energy and stars, using mathematics, experiments and computer models.

  6 linked careers

• Mathematics

  A mathematics degree develops advanced reasoning and problem-solving through pure mathematics, such as algebra and analysis, and applied areas, such as statistics, modelling and computing.

  6 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as a mechanical engineer?

Most mechanical engineers can work without a licence, especially inside manufacturing companies. Regulation usually applies to titles and to signing off certain work. In the United States, engineers who design building systems such as heating and ventilation, or who offer services directly to the public, often need a Professional Engineer (PE) licence. In the UK, Chartered Engineer status is voluntary but valued by employers. In Canada, the title "engineer" is protected. Check the rules with the engineering regulator in your country.

How much does a mechanical engineer earn?

Pay in the United States

• $104,110Median annual wage, May 2025
• $73,990–$164,340Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 296.8KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 17-2141, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes mechanical engineer and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Graduate or junior mechanical engineer
2. Mechanical engineer
3. Senior mechanical engineer
4. Principal engineer or technical specialist
5. Engineering manager or technical director

Job outlook

Mechanical engineering skills are used across many industries, which gives the career some stability. Demand is growing in areas such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, robotics, heating and cooling for low-carbon buildings, and medical devices. Some traditional manufacturing work moves between countries, and automation is changing what factory-based engineers do. Engineers who add skills in software, electronics, data or sustainability tend to have more options.

Questions about becoming a mechanical engineer

What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree?

You can work as a design, manufacturing, test or maintenance engineer in industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, construction and healthcare. The degree also leads into related careers such as aerospace, biomedical or chemical engineering. Because it builds strong mathematics and problem-solving skills, many graduates also move into project management, consulting, data analysis or finance.

Is mechanical engineering hard to study?

It is demanding. You need to be comfortable with mathematics and physics, and the workload includes lectures, laboratory work, design projects and exams. Many students find the first two years the hardest because of the amount of theory. If you enjoy understanding how things work and solving practical problems, the effort usually feels worthwhile.

What is the difference between mechanical and electrical engineering?

Mechanical engineers deal with physical systems: forces, motion, heat, fluids and materials. Electrical engineers deal with electricity, electronics, power and signals. The two fields overlap in areas such as robotics, electric vehicles and control systems, where engineers from both backgrounds work together. Degrees in mechatronics combine elements of both.

Do mechanical engineers need a licence?

Usually not for most jobs, especially in manufacturing, research or product design. A licence or chartered status becomes important if you sign off designs for buildings or public projects, work as an independent consultant, or want some senior roles. In the United States this is the Professional Engineer (PE) licence, in the UK it is Chartered Engineer status, and other countries have their own systems.

Related careers

• Aerospace engineer

  Aerospace engineers design, build and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, drones, and their engines and systems.

  Degree required

• Electrical engineer

  Electrical engineers design, develop and maintain systems that generate, transmit and use electricity, from power grids and electric motors to circuits, sensors and communication equipment.

  Degree required

• Biomedical engineer

  Biomedical engineers use engineering to improve healthcare.

  Degree required

• Chemical engineer

  Chemical engineers design and run the processes that turn raw materials into useful products such as fuels, medicines, plastics, food, fertilisers and clean water.

  Degree required

Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 17-2141, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2144.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a mechanical engineer: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/mechanical-engineer/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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