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With expertise in creating and testing equipment, manufacturing machinery, and all kinds of mechanical designs, a mechanical engineer is an expert at synthesizing information and crafting solutions from industrial and mechanical problems. The majority of mechanical engineers work in architectural engineering, scientific research, navigation and measurement equipment design, and aerospace designs.

What Is a Mechanical Engineer?

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering fields. Professionals in this field plan and design tools, engines, and all kinds of machinery for industrial purposes, commercial use, agriculture production, or technical research. These resourceful and highly trained experts work with a variety of machines and equipment, including:

• Power generators
• Internal combustion engines
• Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment
• Manufacturing robots and tools
• Medical devices
• Nanotechnology

Today's mechanical engineers can be found working in virtually every industry that uses machines--robotics, medicine, aerospace, civil engineering, architecture, and many more. This field overlaps with many other areas of specialization in engineering and should continue to grow with the need for technical and mechanical expertise and development.

Mechanical Engineer Salary: 2009 Data

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov, 2010), the mean mechanical engineer salary for 2009 was $80,580. Engineers with greater experience and more education--such as those who have completed specialized types of mechanical engineer training online--qualify for higher salaries and positions of greater authority and responsibility in the workplace. The top 10 percent of mechanical engineers earned more than $117,550, the BLS reports.

Salary.com reports the following median salaries for mechanical engineers, which vary based on experience:

• Mechanical engineer I: $59,886
• Mechanical engineer II: $71,740
• Mechanical engineer III: $84,186
• Mechanical engineering supervisor: $72,726
• Mechanical engineering manager: $133,882

The top-paying mechanical engineer positions are found in Alaska ($98,790), District of Columbia ($98,050), Colorado ($94,100), New Mexico ($91,560), and Virginia ($90,140), while the states hiring the greatest number of professionals in this field are Michigan, Connecticut, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

Those pursuing careers as mechanical engineers can find the most jobs available in Columbus, Indiana; Niles/Benton Harbor, Michigan; Warren, Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 232,660 men and women were employed as mechanical engineers in the U.S. in 2008, with 11 percent growth and the creation of over 26,000 jobs expected in this field through 2018.

Mechanical Engineer Education and Training

Mechanical engineers generally require a four- to five-year bachelor's degree, plus hands-on training or experience. Top-level positions (with the accompanying higher pay) usually go to candidates with either a graduate degree in the field or six to ten years of experience. Engineers in this specialization can boost their expertise and pay grade by pursuing continuing education through accredited vocational colleges or universities, either in class or through online mechanical engineering training.