Mechanical Engineering
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Career Research Report
Occupation:
Mechanical Engineer
The Job:
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, mechanical engineers mostly do research, develop, design, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines and other mechanical devices. These engineers can create things from a microwave to even a car engine. Mechanical engineers also design tools that other engineers in other fields may use. To do this, they use computer software such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), which is for the designing stage of a product, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) which is for the producing stage of a product.
Mechanical engineers work in different industries such as energy systems, applied mechanics, automotive design, manufacturing, materials, plant engineering and maintenance, etc
Formal Education:
A bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering is a minimum requirement. Masters Degree and PH.D are optional, but salaries will vary depending on education. Mechanical engineers need a lot of physics and math in their education in order to solve real life problems in their careers.
Skills:
Hard Skills:
-Apply fundamentals laws of physics
-Application of mathematic tools to the economical solution of real world problems.
Soft Skills:
-Strategic Planning
-Project Management
Salary:
Average annual earnings in 2002 were $62,880. The lowest 10% earned less than $41,490 and the top 10% earned $93,430.
Mechanical engineers working for the Federal Government averaged $72,500. On the other hand, Architectural, engineering and related services averaged $65,610, followed by Navigational, measuring, electro medical, and control instruments manufacturing with $65,430 and Aerospace products and parts manufacturing with $65,160. Finally, other types of mechanical engineers in machinery manufacturing earned an average of $55,850.