Mechanical Engineers

• Nature of the Work

  Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical equipment. They design and develop power-producing machines such as internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, and jet and rocket engines. They also design and develop power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, robots, machine tools, materials handling systems, and industrial production equipment.

  The work of mechanical engineers varies by industry and function. Specialties include, among others, applied mechanics, design engineering, heat transfer, power plant engineering, pressure vessels and piping, and underwater technology. Mechanical engineers design tools needed by other engineers for their work.

  Mechanical engineering is the broadest engineering discipline, extending across many interdependent specialties. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations, maintenance, or technical sales. Many are administrators or managers.

• Working Conditions for Engineers

• Employment

  Mechanical engineers held about 231,000 jobs in 1994. More than 6 out of 10 jobs were in manufacturing-of these, most were in the machinery, transportation equipment, electrical equipment, instruments, and fabricated metal products industries. Business and engineering consulting services and government agencies provided most of the remaining jobs.

• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement for Engineers

• Job Outlook

  Employment of mechanical engineers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Although overall employment in manufacturing is expected to decline, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase as the demand for machinery and machine tools grows and industrial machinery and processes become increasingly complex. Employment of mechanical engineers in other sectors of the economy, such as construction and services, is expected to grow faster than average as firms in these industries learn to apply these engineers' skills.

  Job prospects in this field should be favorable through the year 2005. Most of the expected job openings resulting from employment growth and the need to replace those who will leave the occupation should be sufficient to absorb the supply of new graduates and other entrants.

  Many mechanical engineering jobs are in defense-related industries. Reductions in defense spending has and may continue to result in layoffs in these industries.

  (See introductory section of this chapter for information on training requirements, earnings, and sources of additional information.)

• Earnings of Engineers

• Related Occupations for Engineers

  Engineers apply the principles of physical science and mathematics in their work. Other workers who use scientific and mathematical principles include physical scientists, life scientists, computer scientists, mathematicians, engineering and science technicians, and architects.

• Sources of Additional Information about Engineers

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