BestOnlineCollege.org is an advertising-supported website. Many of the school and program listings that appear on this site are from partners who compensate us, and this compensation may affect how, where, and in what order listings appear (such as featured placements). This compensation does not influence our editorial content, evaluations, or rankings, which are determined independently using publicly available data. We do not review or feature every school or program available in the marketplace. Our goal is to provide accurate, unbiased information so you can make informed decisions. Read our full Advertiser Disclosure.
What Can You Do With a Mechanical Engineering Degree? Jobs
Key takeaway: Mechanical engineering (CIP 14.19) is the machines-and-thermal-systems degree: solid mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, materials, and design. Arizona State University sells bachelor's and master's versions online, and those programs already convert on this site. A concentration page still lives under [engineering](/programs/engineering/concentrations/mechanical-engineering); this is the full program guide. A technology (MET) bachelor's is CIP 15.0805, not 14.1901, and it is the wrong credential for PE in most states. [Engineering management](/programs/engineering-management) is the later-career management degree, not a substitute for the technical bachelor's.
Labs, machine shops, and some design courses are hybrid even when the lecture is online. ABET programs document how they meet those outcomes at a distance. If a school cannot show that, it is not an ABET mechanical engineering bachelor’s.
Jobs you can get with a mechanical engineering degree
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | $104,110 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $171,270 |
| Industrial Engineers | $102,440 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 |
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| Industrial Engineers | 25,200/yr |
| Mechanical Engineers | 18,100/yr |
| Cost Estimators | 16,900/yr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 14,500/yr |
| Engineers, All Other | 9,300/yr |
| Aerospace Engineers | 4,500/yr |
| Mechanical Drafters | 3,300/yr |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 3,200/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians. Median means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less.
Mechanical Engineers. The national median annual wage was $104,110, with the 10th percentile at $73,990 and the 90th at $164,340 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 293,100 in 2024, projected to grow 9.1 percent through 2034, with 18,100 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). See how to become a mechanical engineer. Architectural and Engineering Managers. The national median annual wage was $171,270, with the 10th percentile at $120,810 and the 90th at $262,760 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 212,500 in 2024, projected to grow 3.8 percent through 2034, with 14,500 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Industrial Engineers. The national median annual wage was $102,440, with the 10th percentile at $74,370 and the 90th at $159,860 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 351,100 in 2024, projected to grow 11.0 percent through 2034, with 25,200 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians. The national median annual wage was $74,510, with the 10th percentile at $48,400 and the 90th at $106,050 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 38,300 in 2024, projected to grow 0.0 percent through 2034, with 3,200 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034).
The jobs this degree does not get you
A technology (MET) bachelor’s is CIP 15.0805, not 14.1901, and it is the wrong credential for PE in most states. Engineering management is the later-career management degree, not a substitute for the technical bachelor’s.
What the degree level changes
The online bachelor’s in mechanical engineering is the entry credential in this CIP. The online master’s in mechanical engineering is the advancement or specialization credential. Compare engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management before you enroll if those titles match the job you actually want.
Common questions
What jobs can you get with a mechanical engineering degree?
Common occupations include mechanical engineers, architectural and engineering managers, industrial engineers, mechanical engineering technologists and technicians.
How much do mechanical engineering majors make?
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians include $104,110 for mechanical engineers, $171,270 for architectural and engineering managers, $102,440 for industrial engineers, $74,510 for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians. Individual outcomes vary.
Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
Back to Best Online Mechanical Engineering Degree Programs (2026)