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Mechanical Engineers

A description of the the work done by "Mechanical Engineers" can be found in the occupational outlook handbook. On this page we examine the most common methods of getting into this job category. We have examined all of the people in our data set who were "Mechanical Engineers" and have identified the most common major fields of study. Jobs categories vary considerably in their degree requirements, so we have provided separate rankings for each degree.













Most common fields of study for workers whose most recent degree was a Bachelors Degree

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  Mean 93      Median 93  Number of                Std. Dev.     
  Income       Income     Observations Percent     in 93 Income  Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $51,911      $50,000      1430         73.41     16888.03      Engineering: Mechanical
  $50,617      $47,840       174          8.93     19166.44      Mechanical engineering-related technologies
  $51,071      $53,700        36          1.85     12055.01      Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
  $53,397      $49,296        29          1.49     16437.32      Engineering: Aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical
  $48,914      $47,750        24          1.23     16968.63      Engineering: Industrial
  $49,504      $45,000        21          1.08     13176.58      Engineering: Industrial production technologies
  $50,089      $47,500        20          1.03     13250.74      Engineering: Electrical, electronics, communications
  $56,929      $58,120        20          1.03      7449.08      Engineering: Civil
  $53,312      $51,000        17           .87     18852.62      Engineering: General
  $56,610      $54,000        17           .87     16459.05      Engineering: Naval architecture and marine
  $53,488      $51,200        16           .82     10638.08      Engineering: Agricultural
  $52,581      $48,000        13           .67     24754.54      OTHER engineering
  $55,741      $57,948         9           .46     17094.80      Engineering: Chemical
  $49,172      $46,800         9           .46      7404.48      Physics
  $43,047      $41,000         7           .36     10263.92      Architecture/Environmental Design
  $44,694      $41,600         6           .31      8807.58      Engineering: Electrical and electronic technologies
  $41,650      $41,800         6           .31      6056.88      OTHER engineering-related technologies
  $51,066      $54,998         6           .31     12006.43      Mathematics, general
  $49,280      $40,000         5           .26     13655.53      OTHER visual and performing arts
  $32,845      $32,136         5           .26     10027.20      Engineering: Petroleum
  $68,800      $47,000         5           .26     34487.10      Engineering: Materials, including ceramics and textiles
  $49,002      $39,004         4           .21     23051.95      Engineering: Architectural
  $45,190      $45,880         4           .21      1899.55      Fine arts, all fields
  $48,292      $41,585         4           .21     12561.84      Business administration and management
  $55,944      $55,888         4           .21     11103.76      Biology, general
  $33,311      $32,500         4           .21      4036.71      Education:  OTHER education
  $57,700      $46,000         3           .15     12792.45      Engineering: Metallurgical
  $51,807      $47,000         3           .15      6036.56      Engineering: Mining and minerals
  $79,000      $42,000         3           .15     50219.52      Education:  Secondary teacher education
  $47,333      $34,000         3           .15     11469.77      Business marketing/marketing management
  $46,093      $42,600         3           .15      2612.04      OTHER business management/administrative services
  $38,493      $38,493         2           .10      1507.00      History, other
  $41,463      $41,463         2           .10      8536.80      Mathematics:  Applied
  $35,600      $35,600         2           .10      8600.00      OTHER psychology
  $57,500      $57,500         2           .10      7500.00      Zoology, general
  $47,500      $47,500         2           .10      4500.00      Political science and government
  $39,500      $39,500         2           .10       500.00      Computer programming
  $35,880      $35,880         2           .10     10920.00      Information services and systems
  $48,000      $48,000         1           .05         0.00      Sociology
  $31,200      $31,200         1           .05         0.00      Dramatic arts
  $63,000      $63,000         1           .05         0.00      Psychology:  Experimental
 $120,000     $120,000         1           .05         0.00      Engineering: Computer/systems
  $50,000      $50,000         1           .05         0.00      Business, general
  $38,000      $38,000         1           .05         0.00      Psychology:  Clinical
  $61,000      $61,000         1           .05         0.00      OTHER physical sciences
  $55,000      $55,000         1           .05         0.00      Education:  Physical education/coaching
  $48,000      $48,000         1           .05         0.00      Chemistry
  $48,000      $48,000         1           .05         0.00      OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
  $38,000      $38,000         1           .05         0.00      Law/Prelaw/Legal Studies
  $33,280      $33,280         1           .05         0.00      English Language and Literature/Letters
  $60,000      $60,000         1           .05         0.00      Communications, general
  $40,000      $40,000         1           .05         0.00      Journalism
 $150,000     $150,000         1           .05         0.00      Engineering: Nuclear
  $48,000      $48,000         1           .05         0.00      Computer science
  $33,000      $33,000         1           .05         0.00      Forestry sciences (Except management)
  $40,000      $40,000         1           .05         0.00      OTHER conservation/renewable natural resources














Most common fields of study for workers whose most recent degree was a Masters Degree

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  Mean 93      Median 93  Number of                Std. Dev.     
  Income       Income     Observations Percent     in 93 Income  Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $57,031      $55,200       345         55.74     16385.64      Engineering: Mechanical
  $55,464      $53,000        88         14.22     16260.57      Business administration and management
  $58,306      $59,350        20          3.23     13071.99      Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
  $55,628      $58,600        20          3.23     12000.76      Mechanical engineering-related technologies
  $56,610      $52,700        17          2.75     14825.09      OTHER business management/administrative services
  $63,295      $50,000        13          2.10     27060.07      Engineering: Aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical
  $61,713      $59,600        12          1.94     19449.89      Business, general
  $57,432      $59,300        12          1.94     11370.37      Engineering: Civil
  $49,649      $47,940         9          1.45      8906.58      Engineering: Industrial
  $70,120      $68,000         6           .97     16100.02      OTHER engineering
  $62,213      $59,640         6           .97      7990.88      Financial management
  $60,300      $59,000         4           .65     18867.17      Mathematics, general
  $58,000      $62,000         4           .65     17564.17      Engineering: Nuclear
  $57,800      $56,000         4           .65     10384.84      Engineering: Electrical, electronics, communications
  $53,200      $52,000         4           .65      9466.78      Engineering: Chemical
  $52,388      $53,525         4           .65      9248.67      Engineering: Materials, including ceramics and textiles
  $50,600      $58,500         4           .65     24600.41      Physics
  $41,250      $40,000         4           .65      9364.16      Computer science
  $71,067      $65,000         3           .48      4419.15      Engineering: Metallurgical
  $55,272      $38,000         3           .48     13187.21      Engineering: Industrial production technologies
  $54,483      $49,000         3           .48      4003.57      Education:  OTHER education
  $43,833      $36,300         3           .48      8178.16      Business marketing/marketing management
  $86,000      $86,000         2           .32      6000.00      Marketing research
  $72,500      $72,500         2           .32      2500.00      Accounting
  $66,250      $66,250         2           .32      4750.00      Engineering: Agricultural
  $56,200      $56,200         2           .32      6800.00      OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
  $55,330      $55,330         2           .32       830.00      Engineering: General
  $52,700      $52,700         2           .32      2300.00      Engineering: Computer/systems
  $51,060      $51,060         2           .32      8940.00      Engineering: Architectural
  $43,950      $43,950         2           .32     23949.50      OTHER engineering-related technologies
  $76,200      $76,200         1           .16         0.00      Statistics
  $72,000      $72,000         1           .16         0.00      Economics
  $72,000      $72,000         1           .16         0.00      Biology, general
  $60,000      $60,000         1           .16         0.00      History, other
  $58,920      $58,920         1           .16         0.00      Engineering: Environmental
  $58,800      $58,800         1           .16         0.00      Communications, general
  $57,000      $57,000         1           .16         0.00      Engineering: Naval architecture and marine
  $56,300      $56,300         1           .16         0.00      Education:  Secondary teacher education
  $54,000      $54,000         1           .16         0.00      Computer systems analysis
  $50,000      $50,000         1           .16         0.00      Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
  $41,600      $41,600         1           .16         0.00      Operations research
  $40,000      $40,000         1           .16         0.00      Public health (including environmental health and epidemiology)
  $36,000      $36,000         1           .16         0.00      Education:  Science teacher education














Most common fields of study for workers whose most recent degree was a Ph.D.

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  Mean 93      Median 93  Number of                Std. Dev.     
  Income       Income     Observations Percent     in 93 Income  Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $62,023      $60,950        46         63.89     14345.78      Engineering: Mechanical
  $79,667      $73,500         6          8.33     35471.43      Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
  $66,133      $63,500         6          8.33     15447.40      Mechanical engineering-related technologies
  $46,007      $19,000         3          4.17     20608.90      Engineering: Civil
  $89,880      $89,880         2          2.78       120.00      Mathematics:  Applied
  $70,000      $70,000         2          2.78      8000.00      Physics
  $29,500      $29,500         2          2.78      5500.00      Engineering: Materials, including ceramics and textiles
  $93,600      $93,600         1          1.39         0.00      OTHER foreign languages and literature
  $89,000      $89,000         1          1.39         0.00      Chemistry
  $61,900      $61,900         1          1.39         0.00      OTHER engineering
  $47,840      $47,840         1          1.39         0.00      Astronomy and astrophysics
  $35,000      $35,000         1          1.39         0.00      Engineering: Agricultural














Most common fields of study for workers whose most recent degree was a JD, LLB, MD, DDS, or Th.D.

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  Mean 93      Median 93  Number of                Std. Dev.     
  Income       Income     Observations Percent     in 93 Income  Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 $113,100     $113,100         2         25.00     36900.00      Law/Prelaw/Legal Studies
  $59,754      $59,754         2         25.00       246.00      Engineering: Mechanical
  $49,356      $49,356         2         25.00      1356.00      Engineering: Electrical and electronic technologies
  $48,450      $48,450         2         25.00      1950.00      Mechanical engineering-related technologies

Prepared by Prof. Ken Chapman: vcecn00a@csun.edu