Mechanical engineers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Mechanical Engineers: Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of such equipment as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
In 2004 engineers held 1.4 million jobs. The distribution of employment by engineering specialty is as follows:
| Total, all engineers | 1,449,000 | 100% |
| Civil | 237,000 | 16.4 |
| Mechanical | 226,000 | 15.6 |
| Industrial | 177,000 | 12.2 |
| Electrical | 156,000 | 10.8 |
| Electronics, except computer | 143,000 | 9.9 |
| Computer hardware | 77,000 | 5.3 |
| Aerospace | 76,000 | 5.2 |
| Environmental | 49,000 | 3.4 |
| Chemical | 31,000 | 2.1 |
| Health and safety, except mining safety | 27,000 | 1.8 |
| Materials | 21,000 | 1.5 |
| Nuclear | 17,000 | 1.2 |
| Petroleum | 16,000 | 1.1 |
| Biomedical | 9,700 | 0.7 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects | 6,800 | 0.5 |
| Mining and geological, including mining safety | 5,200 | 0.4 |
| Agricultural | 3,400 | 0.2 |
| All other engineers | 172,000 | 11.8 |
About 555,000 engineering jobs were found in manufacturing industries, and another 378,000 wage and salary jobs were in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, primarily in architectural, engineering, and related services and in scientific research and development services. Many engineers also worked in the construction and transportation, telecommunications, and utilities industries.
Federal, State, and local governments employed about 194,000 engineers in 2004. About 91,000 of these were in the Federal Government, mainly in the U.S. Departments of Defense, Transportation, Agriculture, Interior, and Energy and in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Most engineers in State and local government agencies worked in highway and public works departments. In 2004, about 41,000 engineers were self-employed, many as consultants.
Engineers are employed in every State, in small and large cities and in rural areas. Some branches of engineering are concentrated in particular industries and geographic areas—for example, petroleum engineering jobs tend to be located in areas with sizable petroleum deposits, such as Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alaska, and California. Others, such as civil engineering, are widely dispersed, and engineers in these fields often move from place to place to work on different projects.
Engineers are employed in every major industry. The industries employing the most engineers in each specialty are given in the table below, along with the percent of occupational employment in the industry.
| Specialty | Industry | Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
||
Aerospace |
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 59.6 |
Agricultural |
State and local government | 22.6 |
Biomedical |
Scientific research and development services | 18.7 |
|
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 15.6 |
Chemical |
Chemical manufacturing | 27.8 |
|
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 16.3 |
Civil |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 46.0 |
Computer hardware |
Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 43.2 |
|
Computer systems design and related services | 15.0 |
Electrical |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 19.6 |
|
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | 10.8 |
Electronics, except computer |
Telecommunications | 17.5 |
|
Federal government | 14.4 |
Environmental |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 28.9 |
|
State and local government | 19.6 |
Health and safety, except mining safety |
State and local government | 12.4 |
Industrial |
Machinery manufacturing | 7.8 |
|
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing | 7.1 |
Marine engineers and naval architects |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 34.5 |
Materials |
Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 14.3 |
Mechanical |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 18.1 |
|
Machinery manufacturing | 13.4 |
Mining and geological, including mining safety |
Mining | 49.9 |
Nuclear |
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | 36.1 |
Petroleum |
Oil and gas extraction | 47.4 |
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Even so, as a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelor's degrees. The following tabulation shows average starting salary offers for engineers, according to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
| Curriculum | Bachelor's | Master's | Ph.D. |
| Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical | $50,993 | $62,930 | $72,529 |
| Agricultural | 46,172 | 53,022 | |
| Bioengineering & biomedical | 48,503 | 59,667 | |
| Chemical | 53,813 | 57,260 | 79,591 |
| Civil | 43,679 | 48,050 | 59,625 |
| Computer | 52,464 | 60,354 | 69,625 |
| Electrical/electronics & communications | 51,888 | 64,416 | 80,206 |
| Environmental/environmental health | 47,384 | ||
| Industrial/manufacturing | 49,567 | 56,561 | 85,000 |
| Materials | 50,982 | ||
| Mechanical | 50,236 | 59,880 | 68,299 |
| Mining & mineral | 48,643 | ||
| Nuclear | 51,182 | 58,814 | |
| Petroleum | 61,516 | 58,000 |
Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in the various branches of engineering also is significant. For engineers in specialties covered in this statement, earnings distributions by percentile in May 2004 are shown in the following tabulation.
| Specialty | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Aerospace | $52,820 | $64,380 | $79,100 | $94,900 | $113,520 |
| Agricultural | 37,680 | 43,270 | 56,520 | 77,740 | 90,410 |
| Biomedical | 41,260 | 51,620 | 67,690 | 86,400 | 107,530 |
| Chemical | 49,030 | 60,920 | 76,770 | 94,740 | 115,180 |
| Civil | 42,610 | 51,430 | 64,230 | 79,920 | 94,660 |
| Computer hardware | 50,490 | 63,730 | 81,150 | 102,100 | 123,560 |
| Electrical | 47,310 | 57,540 | 71,610 | 88,400 | 108,070 |
| Electronics, except computer | 49,120 | 60,280 | 75,770 | 92,870 | 112,200 |
| Environmental | 40,620 | 50,740 | 66,480 | 83,690 | 100,050 |
| Health and safety, except mining safety | 39,930 | 49,900 | 63,730 | 79,500 | 92,870 |
| Industrial | 42,450 | 52,210 | 65,020 | 79,830 | 93,950 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects | 43,790 | 54,530 | 72,040 | 89,900 | 109,190 |
| Materials | 44,130 | 53,510 | 67,110 | 83,830 | 101,120 |
| Mechanical | 43,900 | 53,070 | 66,320 | 82,380 | 97,850 |
| Mining and geological, including mining safety | 39,700 | 50,500 | 64,690 | 83,050 | 103,790 |
| Nuclear | 61,790 | 73,340 | 84,880 | 100,220 | 118,870 |
| Petroleum | 48,260 | 65,350 | 88,500 | 113,180 | 140,800 |
In the Federal Government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $100,059 in ceramic engineering to $70,086 in agricultural engineering in 2005.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Engineers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Mechanical engineers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 700 mean earnings: $72,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,000 | $56,020 | $69,250 | $87,560 | $108,670 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 150 mean earnings: $80,820 | $58,770 | $64,910 | $77,080 | $95,300 | $112,350 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 180 mean earnings: $68,350 | $37,880 | $51,180 | $65,990 | $86,360 | $103,150 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 360 mean earnings: $72,030 | $48,680 | $54,900 | $67,270 | $85,040 | $109,700 |
| Utilities employment: 1,110 mean earnings: $74,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,840 | $61,340 | $75,420 | $88,480 | $100,870 |
| Utilities employment: 1,110 mean earnings: $74,500 | $49,840 | $61,340 | $75,420 | $88,480 | $100,870 |
| Construction employment: 3,530 mean earnings: $68,340 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,730 | $53,680 | $66,790 | $82,500 | $95,900 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 1,510 mean earnings: $72,430 | $48,390 | $59,060 | $70,560 | $86,360 | $101,320 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 100 mean earnings: $64,080 | $43,110 | $50,910 | $60,050 | $73,570 | $88,950 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 1,920 mean earnings: $65,340 | $41,450 | $50,790 | $63,640 | $79,040 | $93,280 |
| Manufacturing employment: 121,440 mean earnings: $67,260 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,810 | $52,670 | $65,090 | $80,210 | $94,450 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 310 mean earnings: $65,530 | $39,300 | $49,330 | $64,650 | $81,040 | $92,070 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 110 mean earnings: $74,720 | $50,310 | $59,870 | $70,530 | $85,530 | $110,960 |
| Textile Mills employment: 60 mean earnings: $72,580 | $45,480 | $58,850 | $70,340 | $88,420 | $105,050 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 50 mean earnings: $59,370 | $40,320 | $45,070 | $55,860 | $73,660 | $86,230 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $57,670 | $33,850 | $41,400 | $55,350 | $71,100 | $86,270 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 1,620 mean earnings: $70,570 | $46,680 | $57,790 | $70,260 | $84,430 | $94,150 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 110 mean earnings: $61,310 | $40,640 | $49,230 | $60,800 | $69,610 | $83,340 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 1,020 mean earnings: $75,620 | $50,410 | $60,960 | $72,610 | $89,890 | $109,060 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 2,260 mean earnings: $69,040 | $46,720 | $54,360 | $68,090 | $83,560 | $94,440 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 5,630 mean earnings: $65,170 | $42,820 | $51,550 | $63,170 | $76,340 | $91,620 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 530 mean earnings: $64,420 | $41,030 | $52,160 | $65,000 | $76,190 | $88,980 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 2,860 mean earnings: $62,760 | $40,830 | $50,210 | $61,520 | $73,590 | $88,640 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 13,250 mean earnings: $60,040 | $39,090 | $47,490 | $57,690 | $70,470 | $86,260 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 30,160 mean earnings: $63,940 | $42,610 | $50,900 | $61,770 | $74,330 | $89,440 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 21,350 mean earnings: $74,930 | $48,280 | $58,220 | $71,690 | $89,320 | $110,010 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 5,500 mean earnings: $64,400 | $43,540 | $52,280 | $63,840 | $74,700 | $88,610 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 30,830 mean earnings: $69,570 | $46,460 | $55,250 | $67,870 | $83,430 | $96,530 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 450 mean earnings: $58,520 | $39,990 | $47,120 | $56,420 | $69,260 | $83,720 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 5,180 mean earnings: $65,350 | $40,810 | $51,470 | $64,150 | $78,320 | $92,360 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 6,240 mean earnings: $67,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,520 | $53,300 | $66,260 | $81,700 | $95,020 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 5,020 mean earnings: $67,370 | $42,420 | $52,710 | $65,790 | $81,180 | $94,410 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 160 mean earnings: $65,850 | $46,400 | $51,550 | $59,810 | $81,960 | $92,650 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 1,050 mean earnings: $71,030 | $48,250 | $56,390 | $68,830 | $84,040 | $100,180 |
| Retail Trade employment: 140 mean earnings: $62,660 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,090 | $48,790 | $61,290 | $74,810 | $90,290 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 40 mean earnings: $56,610 | $40,110 | $45,100 | $55,510 | $67,890 | $76,950 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 70 mean earnings: $59,890 | $39,290 | $47,700 | $56,740 | $69,670 | $89,660 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 700 mean earnings: $66,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,390 | $49,880 | $66,310 | $82,480 | $93,720 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 80 mean earnings: $74,240 | $42,330 | $53,070 | $75,030 | $91,430 | $112,060 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 40 mean earnings: $67,480 | $51,020 | $59,690 | $67,640 | $76,140 | $88,490 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 170 mean earnings: $68,650 | $46,830 | $54,460 | $67,160 | $82,530 | $94,240 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 130 mean earnings: $64,290 | $36,550 | $45,740 | $64,120 | $81,390 | $93,400 |
| Postal Service employment: 50 mean earnings: $80,660 | $63,810 | $73,000 | $81,070 | $89,140 | $102,730 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 100 mean earnings: $71,930 | $42,450 | $54,990 | $74,020 | $84,860 | $91,360 |
| Information employment: 380 mean earnings: $77,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $51,650 | $62,040 | $78,300 | $92,480 | $109,680 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 160 mean earnings: $76,690 | $49,790 | $60,150 | $75,860 | $90,980 | $111,180 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: n.a. mean earnings: $79,400 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,570 | $75,500 | $81,920 | $88,350 | $92,220 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 40 mean earnings: $76,670 | $51,890 | $62,050 | $76,910 | $89,710 | $102,360 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $79,900 | $68,130 | $76,460 | $82,340 | $88,240 | $91,780 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 510 mean earnings: $66,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,040 | $50,440 | $60,650 | $79,740 | $94,610 |
| Real Estate employment: n.a. mean earnings: $75,390 | $52,910 | $61,290 | $77,850 | $88,750 | $95,650 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 450 mean earnings: $65,360 | $42,210 | $49,560 | $59,040 | $76,940 | $93,990 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 62,300 mean earnings: $73,840 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,770 | $55,570 | $71,270 | $89,550 | $109,620 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 62,300 mean earnings: $73,840 | $44,770 | $55,570 | $71,270 | $89,550 | $109,620 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 3,730 mean earnings: $74,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,160 | $59,410 | $72,660 | $88,150 | $104,870 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 3,730 mean earnings: $74,440 | $49,160 | $59,410 | $72,660 | $88,150 | $104,870 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 6,000 mean earnings: $71,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,260 | $54,710 | $68,400 | $86,120 | $103,330 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $70,220 | $44,630 | $53,710 | $66,570 | $83,900 | $103,110 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,560 mean earnings: $58,670 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,800 | $45,510 | $55,840 | $70,190 | $86,660 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,560 mean earnings: $58,670 | $35,800 | $45,510 | $55,840 | $70,190 | $86,660 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 130 mean earnings: $59,490 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,030 | $41,650 | $53,280 | $72,010 | $94,790 |
| Hospitals employment: 120 mean earnings: $56,620 | $35,190 | $40,810 | $50,680 | $69,180 | $89,810 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 170 mean earnings: $83,480 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,220 | $55,770 | $75,800 | $95,450 | $141,950 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 150 mean earnings: $85,270 | $46,990 | $56,080 | $76,580 | $100,330 | $145,080 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 760 mean earnings: $65,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,520 | $49,450 | $60,800 | $78,410 | $96,460 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 670 mean earnings: $64,660 | $40,200 | $49,090 | $59,770 | $76,410 | $97,000 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 60 mean earnings: $68,170 | $41,980 | $53,120 | $70,040 | $84,620 | $92,130 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 11,120 mean earnings: $78,970 (def) (IG) | $52,460 | $64,780 | $79,610 | $93,420 | $108,740 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 11,120 mean earnings: $78,970 | $52,460 | $64,780 | $79,610 | $93,420 | $108,740 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.