Occupation Summary

Mechanical Engineers

O*NET 17-2141.00

Description:

Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

Annual Wages:
$119,348.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 20.80%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
STEM

  1. Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
  2. Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
  3. Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
  4. Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs.
  5. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
  6. Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems.
  7. Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
  8. Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
  9. Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition.
  10. Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.
  11. Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering.
  12. Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products.
  13. Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.
  14. Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
  15. Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems.
  16. Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.
  17. Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
  18. Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution.
  19. Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
  20. Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
  21. Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
  22. Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
  23. Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
  24. Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects.
  25. Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers.
  26. Solicit new business.
  27. Provide technical customer service.
  28. Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Mechanical Engineers employed Annual Growth Rate
Architectural, engineering, and related services 19.5 0.59
Scientific research and development services 8 1.39
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 4.2 1.27
Electronic instrument manufacturing 4.2 0.87
Employment services 2.6 0.90
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 2.5 -0.85
Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers 2.3 0.44
Metalworking machinery manufacturing 2 0.68


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $57.38
2024 National average hourly wage $52.92
2022 National employment 286,100
2022 Texas employment 18,036
Texas projected employment by 2032 21,787
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 1,455




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
90.00%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
89.20%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
86.80%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
84.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
81.20%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
77.60%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
74.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
72.60%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
67.80%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
67.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
77.60%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
77.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
77.60%
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
75.00%
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
75.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
75.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
75.00%
Operations Analysis
Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
70.00%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
70.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
67.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
77.60%
Mathematical Reasoning
The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
77.60%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
77.60%
Number Facility
The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
72.40%


  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
    -- Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Thinking Creatively
    -- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Recognition
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.



Tools

Accelerometers: Accelerometers;

Acoustic sensors: Acoustic emission AE sensors;

Air compressors: Air compressors;

Coordinate measuring machines CMM: Optical laser scanners; Coordinate measuring machines CMM;

Dynamometers: Dynamometers;

Fatigue testers: Servohydraulic material testing machines;

Fiber sensors: Optical sensors;

Flow transmitters: Subsonic wind tunnels; Supersonic wind tunnels;

Flowmeters: Laser Doppler anemometers; Laser Doppler velocimeters LDV; Digital particle image velocimeters; Pitot tubes;

Force or torque sensors: Torque transducers; Force transducers;

Frequency analyzers: Spectrum analyzers;

Fused deposition modeling machine: Fused deposition modeling FDM machines;

Grinding or polishing machines: Chemical-mechanical polishing equipment;

Hardness testers: Nano indentation systems;

Heat exchangers: Heat exchangers;

High voltage cable detection: Contact testers;

Infrared imagers: Infrared thermography cameras;

Infrared spectrometers: Cryogenic apparatus;

Interferometers: Interferometers; Interferometric microscopes;

Machine mounts or vibration isolators: Vibration control systems; Vibration isolators;

Medical computed tomography CT or CAT stationary units: Computed tomography CT systems;

Microcontrollers: Programmable logic controllers PLC;

Multimeters: Multimeters;

Oscilloscopes: Oscilloscopes;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Photoelastic testing instruments: Photoelastic testing machines;

Plotter printers: Multi-pen plotters;

Programmable tube furnaces: Vapor deposition tube furnaces;

Proximity sensors: Radio frequency sensors; Position transducers;

Refrigerated and heated reach in environmental or growth chambers: Environmental testing chambers;

Roughness measuring instruments: Stylus profilometers; Surface profilometers;

Scanners: Laser digitizers;

Scanning electron microscopes: Scanning electron microscopes SEM;

Scanning probe microscopes: Scanning probe microscopes SPM; Scanning tunneling microscopes STM;

Semiconductor process systems: Projection lithography equipment; Wafer bonding systems; Wafer dicing saws; Wire bonders; Plasma etchers; Precision positioning tables; Rapid thermal processing systems; Spin-coaters; Sputtering systems; Anodic wafer bonding systems; Aligners; Contact lithography equipment; Deep reactive ion etchers DRIE; Evaporation systems; Flip-chip wafer bonding systems;

Signal generators: Pattern generators; Function generators;

Spectrometers: Fluorescence spectrometers;

Speed sensors: Velocity transducers;

Step drive or stepper drive or step indexer: Steppers;

Strain gauges: Strain gauges; Dynamic strain indicators;

Thickness measuring devices: Ellipsometers;

Torque converters: Torsional converters;

Vibration testers: Vibration testers;

Video editors: Video editing equipment;

Voltage comparator integrated circuits: Digital to analog converters; Analog to digital converters;

Wire cathode electrode discharge machine: Wire electrical discharge machines;

X ray radiography examination equipment: X ray radiographic systems; X ray tubes;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: ANSYS simulation software; Accelerated life testing software; Computational fluid dynamics CFD software; Blue Ridge Numerics CFDesign; Data acquisition software; Design of experiments DOE software; Failure mode and effects analysis FMEA software; Finite element method FEM software; Grid generation software; Life cycle cost software; MAYA Nastran; Mesh generation software; Minitab; Modal analysis software; Motion analysis software; Reliability analysis software; ReliaSoft Alta 6 Pro; ReliaSoft BlockSim; ReliaSoft Weibull++ 6; Sigmetrix CETOL 6 Sigma; Statistical energy analysis SEA software; Statistical software; The MathWorks MATLAB; Video analysis software;

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Microsoft SharePoint;

Computer aided design CAD software: Metrix Imageware Surfacer; Reverse engineering software; Optical analysis software; PTC Creo Parametric; Mathsoft Mathcad; Lambda Research OSLO; InnovMetric PolyWorks; Intergraph Plant Design System PDS; Failure assessment software; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; Computer aided design and drafting software CADD; Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D; Autodesk Revit; Bentley MicroStation; Zemax; UGS I-DEAS; SolidWorks COSMOSWorks;

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: Rapid prototyping software; 1CadCam Unigraphics; Computer aided manufacturing CAM software;

Configuration management software: Chef; Puppet; Perforce Helix software;

Customer relationship management CRM software: Microsoft Dynamics;

Data base management system software: Teradata Database;

Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft SQL Server; Microsoft Access;

Development environment software: MUMPS M; National Instruments LabVIEW; Microsoft Visual Basic; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA; Rockwell Automation software; C; Adobe ActionScript; Ladder Logic; Hewlett-Packard HP Graphics Language HPGL; Verilog;

Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne;

Financial analysis software: Cost estimating software;

Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software; Geographic information system GIS software;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator; Trimble SketchUp Pro; SmugMug Flickr;

Industrial control software: Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software; Computer numerical control CNC software; Human machine interface HMI software;

Instant messaging software: Blink;

Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software: Bill of materials software;

Object or component oriented development software: C++; G-code; Python; R; Perl;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Shell script;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio;

Project management software: Microsoft Project; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Mechanical Engineers include:
  • 17-3021.00 Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
  • 17-2141.02 Automotive Engineers
  • 17-3028.00 Calibration Technologists and Technicians
  • 17-3023.00 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
  • 17-2071.00 Electrical Engineers
  • 17-2072.00 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
  • 17-2141.01 Fuel Cell Engineers
  • 17-2112.00 Industrial Engineers
  • 17-3027.00 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
  • 17-2199.05 Mechatronics Engineers


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about general engineering education and mechanical engineering career resources, visit: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • American Society for Engineering Education
  • Technology Student Association
  • For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit: ABET
  • For more information about licensure as a mechanical engineer, visit: National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
  • National Society of Professional Engineers
  • For information about certification, visit: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • Occupational Requirements Survey

  • For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
  • Mechanical engineers (PDF)
  • Automotive Engineers
  • Fuel Cell Engineers
  • Mechanical Engineers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.