Is Mechanical Engineering a Good Major?

Thinking about becoming a mechanical engineer? There are great opportunities in the career field. In this blog we explore what mechanical engineering is, how you can become a mechanical engineer, what a day in the life of a mechanical engineer is like, and how much you can expect to make in the industry.

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines and a versatile degree that opens the door to diverse, high-paying careers. But is it the right choice for you? This comprehensive guide examines key factors to consider when deciding if mechanical engineering is a good major.

What is Mechanical Engineering?

Mechanical engineering applies principles of physics, materials science, and mathematics to analyze, design, and maintain mechanical systems Mechanical engineers work on power-producing machines, manufacturing equipment, transportation vehicles, medical devices, industrial automation, and more.

Mechanical engineers design these products considering factors like:

Forces and motion
Thermodynamics
Material strength
Fluid dynamics
Energy conversion

They run simulations and tests to develop optimal solutions that are safe, efficient, and sustainable. Mechanical engineering overlaps with many other engineering fields, encompassing a wide range of specializations.

Is Mechanical Engineering a Good Major for Your Career?

A mechanical engineering major offers versatile career opportunities. Here are some top reasons it can be an excellent choice:

In-demand field: Mechanical engineering is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, adding over 25,000 new jobs. The need for mechanical engineers spans many booming industries.
High salary potential: The median salary for mechanical engineers is $95,300 per year, significantly above the median for all occupations. Starting salaries average $69,000 for new grads.
Varied career paths: Mechanical engineering skills apply across sectors like aerospace, robotics, energy, biomedical devices, manufacturing, and beyond.
Problem-solving skills: Mechanical engineering develops critical thinking and analysis competencies valuable in many fields.
Hands-on work: Mechanical engineering involves designing, building, and testing physical devices and systems. Ideal for those who like to apply theories practically.
Business opportunities: Mechanical engineering knowledge helps those looking to start their own product design firm or manufacturing business.

Overall, mechanical engineering offers stable job prospects, high earning potential, and abundant career options. Your mechanical engineering degree will be in demand by employers hiring in many economic sectors.

Potential Careers with a Mechanical Engineering Degree

A major in mechanical engineering prepares you for lots of exciting career opportunities. Here are some top jobs you can pursue:

Mechanical engineer: Design, test, and improve mechanical devices and systems in fields like aerospace, automation, energy, and manufacturing.
Product design engineer: Create and refine products like appliances, medical equipment, or consumer electronics.
Manufacturing engineer: Maximize efficiency of manufacturing operations through implementing process improvements and automation.
HVAC engineer: Design heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems for buildings or vehicles.
Automotive engineer: Develop autonomous and electric vehicle systems, improve fuel efficiency and safety, and innovate new designs.
Aerospace engineer: Design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and their propulsion and control systems.
Robotics engineer: Create robotic mechanisms, develop artificial intelligence systems, and program automated operations.
Biomedical engineer: Improve designs for prosthetics, implants, surgical devices, health monitoring systems, and assistive technologies.
Petroleum engineer: Design processes for extracting, refining, and transporting oil and natural gas.
Project manager: Manage teams of designers, engineers, and technicians to coordinate development of new products.

A mechanical engineering degree equips you with technical knowledge to understand mechanical systems, solve problems creatively, and communicate complex ideas. These abilities open up options across many industries.

Should You Major in Mechanical Engineering?

While mechanical engineering can be a very rewarding degree choice, make sure it aligns with your interests and goals by assessing:

Your Interests

Do you enjoy discovering how mechanical objects and systems work?
Are you curious about applying math and science principles practically?
Do you like designing, building, or taking things apart?
Do you gravitate toward hands-on work?
Are you detail-oriented and meticulous?

If so, your natural interests fit well with mechanical engineering.

Your Strengths

Are you strong in math, physics, chemistry, and biology?
Do you excel in technical drawing and computer-aided design (CAD)?
Are you a creative problem-solver?
Can you visualize abstract concepts spatially?
Do you have strong analytic, technical, and quantitative skills?

If these strengths describe you, you are well-suited for mechanical engineering coursework.

Your Career Aspirations

Do you want to design, test, or manufacture products?
Are you interested in renewable energy, aerospace, biomedical devices, or automation?
Do you want to start an engineering-focused business someday?
Would you enjoy managing technical development projects and teams?
Does working in a hands-on engineering role appeal to you?

If so, a mechanical engineering degree will help you achieve your career ambitions.

By examining your own interests, strengths, and goals, you can determine if mechanical engineering is the right choice for your major.

Challenges of a Mechanical Engineering Major

While mechanical engineering offers fantastic career potential, the major does come with some challenges to weigh:

Difficult coursework: Be prepared for lots of complex math, physics, engineering mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials science classes.
Heavy workload: Expect around 30 hours per week of demanding homework, projects, and lab work on top of lectures.
Advanced technology: Utilizing sophisticated engineering software for 3D modeling, simulations, analysis, and design takes dedication.
Competition: Mechanical engineering is a popular major, so you need strong grades and portfolio projects to stand out.
Manual skills: You must develop precision hand skills for technical drawing, building models, operating lab equipment, and fabricating parts.
Math orientation: Individuals who dislike or struggle with higher math may find the constant calculations frustrating.
Abstract concepts: Grasping invisible forces and spatial relationships requires strong spatial reasoning abilities.

By being realistic about the rigor and developing strategies to master concepts, you can overcome the challenges of a mechanical engineering program.

Skills Mechanical Engineering Students Should Have

To maximize your chances of success as a mechanical engineering major, build these essential skills:

Math: Algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, and some linear algebra form the foundation of mechanical engineering. Master these to excel in your courses.
Physics: Core physics areas like mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and electromagnetism directly apply to mechanical engineering problems.
Computer skills: Learn CAD software, programming, and simulation tools like MATLAB or LabVIEW to complete assignments and projects.
Creativity: Devising innovative solutions requires thinking outside the box. Brainstorming and sketching concepts visually can help.
Communication: From collaborating on teams to conveying your designs, strong speaking and writing are a must.
Organization: Use calendars, task lists, and note-taking systems to juggle a heavy course load.
Perseverance: Don’t get intimidated by complex material. Break problems down methodically and keep pushing to master them.

Building on your strengths in STEM topics and developing key engineering aptitudes will give you an advantage in the mechanical engineering program.

Alternatives to Majoring in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering offers a rewarding path, but may not be the perfect fit for everyone. Here are a few alternatives to consider:

Industrial engineering: Focuses on optimizing complex systems and processes, especially in manufacturing. More emphasis on business operations than mechanical design.
Electrical engineering: Concentrates more on electronics, power systems, and signals than physical devices. Involves extensive programming and circuit analysis.
Engineering technology/engineering science: Allows you to apply engineering principles with less advanced math and physics theory requirements.
Physics/math: Pursue the foundational science behind engineering if the design and analysis aspects don’t appeal to you.
Architecture: Marry engineering knowledge with creative architectural design. Less technical than engineering.
Business: If you are attracted to starting a technology or manufacturing company, combine engineering courses with business, finance, and/or entrepreneurship classes.

Evaluate all your options and how they align with your professional aspirations before choosing your major.

Steps to Take Before Declaring the Mechanical Engineering Major

If mechanical engineering appeals to you, take these proactive steps in high school or early college:

Take the most rigorous math and science courses available, including calculus, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science.
Build spatial reasoning and visualization skills through classes in CAD or drafting.
Participate in a robotics club or team to apply technical knowledge.
Join science and engineering competitions like FIRST Robotics to demonstrate your skills.
Talk to your guidance counselor about the mechanical engineering curriculum and careers.
Meet with a college advisor to help align your goals with potential

is mechanical engineering a good major

Why study mechanical engineering?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, mechanical engineering is one of the most versatile engineering science with a projected growth of 4% in employment over the next 20 years from 2019 to 2029. Mechanical engineers usually get paid around $100,000, which is much higher than the other occupations. This profession requires creativity and ingenuity to solve the practical problems in the design, leading to high job satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

The UTPB Mechanical Engineering program educates and trains engineers to envision and formulate solutions to everyday problems. Mechanical Engineering students will learn to design a machine, a system, or a process. Students will then analyze their designs using the principles of physics to ensure the product functions safely, efficiently, and reliably.

What is mechanical engineering?

Mechanical Engineering is one of the broadest and diverse engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers play a vital role in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automobile, biotechnology, microelectromechanical systems, oil and gas, renewal energy, nuclear power, robotics, manufacturing, automation, and space exploration. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, its 36 listed divisions range across design, systems, materials, energy, manufacturing, and service sectors.

Technically, mechanical engineers apply the principles of natural science for the analysis, modeling, design, and synthesis of physical systems to address the challenge faced by humankind. Virtually every product or service in our daily life is touched by a mechanical engineer in one way or the other.

This versatility of the mechanical engineering discipline allows the students to explore career options across and beyond the areas mentioned above. Mechanical engineering education imparts skills and knowledge to facilitate critical thinking and a creative mindset to solve real-world problems. The analytical skills and tools help to formulate a comprehensive problem encompassing available resources and constraints. These exceptional skills allow students to launch a career and create technologies in many other fields such as healthcare, management, consulting, sustainability, and entrepreneurship and help them excel in their respective careers.

Here’s Why Mechanical Engineering Is A Great Degree

FAQ

Is mechanical engineer a good degree?

Getting a degree in mechanical engineering can set you up to pursue careers in many industries. People who majored in mechanical engineering often find work designing and overseeing the manufacturing of various items, including elevators, new batteries and medical devices.

Are mechanical engineers in high demand?

In 2021, mechanical engineers earned an annual median salary of $95,300, with the top 10% of earners making over $136,210. Around the world, mechanical engineers remain in demand.

Is taking mechanical engineering worth it?

Mechanical engineers must also possess strong problem-solving and teamwork skills, as well as the ability to collaborate with a variety of individuals. For those who possess the necessary skills and dedication to pursue a successful career in the field, obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering is worthwhile.

Is mechanical engineering a hard major?

It is hard The amount of advanced math and science classes you need to take is a lot. Alongside those you will take many engineering classes that seem almost impossible to pass. If you were a gifted student in high school, you may not have learned how to properly study.

Can Mechanical Engineers get a job after a mechanical engineering degree?

Improve job security: The BLS projects job opportunities for mechanical engineers to grow by 7% from 2020 to 2030, which is about average for all occupations. This means you might find work in this industry relatively easily after earning a mechanical engineering degree.

Is mechanical engineering a good major?

A big thing in any degree is learning how to manage your time and juggle the assignments you have due in that time span. Overall, mechanical engineering is a very interesting major to consider. If you believe you can juggle the workload and difficulty of a engineering major, I would highly recommend it. It is a very rewarding degree.

What degree do you need to become a mechanical engineer?

Most jobs in this field require a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. Management hopefuls may want to pursue a master’s degree. After earning a degree from an accredited program, prospective engineers can sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

What is a mechanical engineering major?

Mechanical engineering majors must be analytical and logical thinkers as well as resourceful and imaginative. A mechanical engineering major studies movement, from the movement of particles to that of large machinery and the human body.