Mechanical Engineers
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.
At a Glance
Mechanical Engineers earns a median of $102,320/yr with +9.1% projected growth. Typical entry: Bachelor's degree. Top skills: Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment, Working with Computers, Making Decisions and Solving Problems.
$102,320/yr
+9.1%
18
Bachelor's degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (14)
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Knowledge (10)
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.
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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.
Abilities (18)
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.
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
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).
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Technology (32)
Category: Project management software | Hot Technology
Category: Development environment software | Hot Technology
Work Activities (18)
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.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Work Styles (1)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
Careers with Overlapping Skills
These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer and Mathematical · 225 shared skills
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Management · 224 shared skills
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Computer and Mathematical · 223 shared skills
Computer User Support Specialists
Computer and Mathematical · 223 shared skills
Computer Systems Analysts
Computer and Mathematical · 221 shared skills
Electrical Engineers
Architecture and Engineering · 221 shared skills
Information Technology Project Managers
Computer and Mathematical · 220 shared skills
Software Developers
Computer and Mathematical · 220 shared skills
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