Mechanical Engineers
Also called: Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Product Engineer, Project EngineerPerform 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 17 of its 28 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 11.2% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Mechanical engineers”, which includes this one and others.
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 41% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $100,230 | $83,800 to $128,100 | not published |
| Alaska | $124,340 | $92,280 to $157,610 | 380 |
| Arizona | $100,270 | $82,430 to $128,880 | 5,050 |
| Arkansas | $80,180 | $65,620 to $103,850 | 1,410 |
| California | $130,900 | $102,360 to $166,580 | 30,530 |
| Colorado | $124,430 | $95,710 to $149,790 | 7,190 |
| Connecticut | $105,090 | $86,170 to $133,540 | 4,600 |
| Delaware | $125,130 | $97,920 to $128,140 | 610 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 | $107,300 to $166,360 | 510 |
| Florida | $99,980 | $79,090 to $128,320 | 10,740 |
| Georgia | $100,620 | $80,040 to $128,350 | 5,290 |
| Guam | $61,510 | $51,790 to $75,440 | 140 |
| Hawaii | $98,740 | $85,820 to $119,700 | 530 |
| Idaho | $93,190 | $76,540 to $108,570 | 1,070 |
| Illinois | $102,680 | $83,800 to $130,730 | 11,790 |
| Indiana | $99,590 | $80,630 to $127,700 | 8,690 |
| Iowa | $97,700 | $79,770 to $108,580 | 3,470 |
| Kansas | $86,260 | $79,350 to $104,890 | 4,630 |
| Kentucky | $101,050 | $80,350 to $120,690 | 4,170 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | $81,790 to $147,560 | 1,890 |
| Maine | $102,430 | $83,740 to $127,300 | 890 |
| Maryland | $122,870 | $98,300 to $156,560 | 6,550 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | $96,440 to $140,590 | 7,680 |
| Michigan | $104,890 | $87,640 to $132,160 | 34,630 |
| Minnesota | $99,140 | $81,860 to $128,690 | 5,890 |
| Mississippi | $98,000 | $75,510 to $127,410 | 1,570 |
| Missouri | $99,330 | $79,540 to $120,990 | 4,870 |
| Montana | $94,190 | $79,240 to $119,820 | 500 |
| Nebraska | $88,060 | $74,820 to $108,900 | 950 |
| Nevada | $102,680 | $86,030 to $130,390 | 1,410 |
| New Hampshire | $103,660 | $84,210 to $130,120 | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $112,300 | $92,750 to $136,910 | 4,180 |
| New Mexico | $157,710 | $128,080 to $162,880 | 2,710 |
| New York | $102,440 | $84,400 to $129,410 | 8,590 |
| North Carolina | $100,720 | $82,490 to $125,050 | 9,560 |
| North Dakota | $86,330 | $77,990 to $114,830 | 790 |
| Ohio | $99,100 | $79,390 to $115,770 | 14,390 |
| Oklahoma | $101,850 | $82,960 to $128,320 | 2,270 |
| Oregon | $103,470 | $91,270 to $130,230 | 2,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,920 | $79,090 to $125,270 | 13,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $72,240 | $50,630 to $100,190 | 490 |
| Rhode Island | $116,230 | $99,350 to $154,690 | 1,560 |
| South Carolina | $104,580 | $84,810 to $133,480 | 5,780 |
| South Dakota | $88,380 | $77,160 to $106,850 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $99,550 | $78,730 to $127,500 | 3,930 |
| Texas | $112,410 | $91,420 to $145,090 | 22,080 |
| Utah | $102,500 | $84,500 to $127,780 | 3,370 |
| Vermont | $107,330 | $87,360 to $127,100 | 530 |
| Virginia | $104,180 | $85,410 to $131,250 | 7,470 |
| Washington | $110,430 | $94,560 to $139,870 | 8,240 |
| West Virginia | $97,390 | $82,910 to $118,490 | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $95,870 | $77,920 to $106,950 | 7,470 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | $100,060 to $140,600 | 230 |
Nationally: $104,110. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 17 of its 28 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations. | Not published |
| Not much | Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions. | 0.01% |
See all 28 tasks
| AI alone | Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions. | 0.03% |
| AI + software | Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Provide technical customer service. | 0.19% |
| Not much | Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects. | Not published |
| AI + software | Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency. | Not published |
| Not much | Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement. | Not published |
| Not much | Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| AI + software | Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition. | Not published |
| AI + software | Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| AI + software | Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact. | Not published |
| AI + software | Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints. | Not published |
| AI + software | Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Solicit new business. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 11 of the 28 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 28 tasks fall under 30 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #15 Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies
- and 5 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Design industrial systems or equipment | |||
| Direct construction or extraction activities | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Create visual designs or displays |
Show all 30 activities
| Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies | |||
| Implement procedures or processes | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Advise others on products or services | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Develop models of systems, processes, or products | |||
| Promote products, services, or programs | |||
| Coordinate with others to resolve problems | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Research organizational behavior, processes, or performance | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Investigate organizational or operational problems | |||
| Identify business or organizational opportunities | |||
| Design structures or facilities | |||
| Coordinate regulatory compliance activities | |||
| Prepare proposals or grant applications | |||
| Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment | |||
| Install commercial or production equipment | |||
| Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer45%
- Advice or a recommendation21%
- A document or report8%
- A plan or strategy4%
- An analysis or summary3%
How they worked with Claude
35% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for mechanical engineers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 104,610 moves out
- 1 Architectural and Engineering Managers High +5.5% 12%
- 2 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 10%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 4 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 5 Software Developers, Applications (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Where people moved in from
of 110,904 moves in
- 1 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 9%
- 2 Architectural and Engineering Managers High +5.5% 8%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 4 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 1% high school
- 9% postsecondary certificate
- 8% some college
- 29% associate's
- 52% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 24 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 6% some college
- 6% associate's
- 59% bachelor's
- 20% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 2% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 3,801 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
3 programs: Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering and Electromechanical Engineering.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
19.6% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 1.8% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 2 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (TOOL DESIGN; TOOL DESIGNER). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Mechanical Engineers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-2141.00