What Careers are Available with a Mechanical Engineering Degree?

Home/Best Master’s Degrees FAQ/What Careers are Available with a Mechanical Engineering Degree?

Wondering about your options for possible careers available with a mechanical engineering degree? If curiosity about mechanical things compels you to take them apart and study them, mechanical engineering could be a fantastic choice of majors, and careers, for you. But what sorts of jobs are available for people who like to take mechanical devices apart and deconstruct their inner workings? Read on to discover 6 of the best jobs you'd be qualified for if you were to obtain a mechanical engineering degree.

1. Mechanical Engineer

Obviously, mechanical engineering is the most straightforward career path for a student who majors in mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineers are creative inventors who specialize in developing, designing and perfecting mechanical devices. These professionals work to create new mechanical objects such as engines, automotive parts, electric generators, air conditioners, tools, sensors and related items.
This could be your ideal career choice if you love math and science and you find new technologies fascinating.

2. Industrial Engineer

The primary goal of an industrial engineer's workday is maximizing efficiency. Some industrial engineers apply their mathematical and mechanical engineering expertise to solve problems that arise in production or manufacturing of products. Others work in niches such as healthcare or transportation to improve efficiency in their hiring organizations' workflow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If this career path is of interest to you, it's essential to obtain your bachelor's degree. Mechanical engineering is a good choice of majors for this career path, although you could consider industrial engineering as an alternative.

3. Automotive Engineer

There are infinite possible ways to improve on existing automotive technology. If you'd be interested in developing new automotive safety technologies, new car parts, more fuel-efficient engines or other innovations along those lines, it's worth considering a career as an automotive engineer.

4. Biomedical Engineer/Medical Biotechnologist/Biotechnology Engineer

If you can't decide between a career in healthcare or a career in engineering, a career as a biomedical engineer is kind of a hybrid between the two fields. Biomedical engineers are behind medical innovations such as prosthetic limbs. To succeed with this career, you would use engineering methods to concoct new medical devices, software or related technologies for use in the healthcare sector.

5. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Engineer

HVAC engineers are concerned with both the air quality and the temperature in environments where their products are in use. They work to improve the available technologies in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and / or refrigeration systems. A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering is an asset to any candidate seeking work as an HVAC engineer.

6. Mechanical Engineering Technician

A mechanical engineering technician provides assistance to one or more mechanical engineers in multiple ways. Their tasks might include calculations, data analysis, design drafting or preparing reports. The minimum academic credential required for this position is an associate's degree.

Related Resource: How Do You Become a Physicist?

These are six different possible career paths for mechanical engineering majors, but they are not the only possibilities. If you pursue a mechanical engineering degree, your career opportunities are nearly limitless. If you're positive you have the necessary science, math and analytical skills, it would be worthwhile to pursue any of these careers available with a mechanical engineering degree.