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- 71
- Mechanical Engineers
-
- (D.O.T. 007.061, .161-022, -034, and -038, and .267-010)
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- Nature of the Work
-
- Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, engines, machines, and
- other mechanical equipment. They design and develop power-producing
- machines such as internal combustion engines, steam and gas
- turbines, and jet and rocket engines. They also design and develop
- power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning
- equipment, robots, machine tools, materials handling systems, and
- industrial production equipment.
-
- The work of mechanical engineers varies by industry and function.
- Specialties include, among others, applied mechanics, design
- engineering, heat transfer, power plant engineering, pressure
- vessels and piping, and underwater technology. Mechanical engineers
- design tools needed by other engineers for their work.
-
- Mechanical engineering is the broadest engineering discipline,
- extending across many interdependent specialties. Some mechanical
- engineers work in production operations, maintenance, and technical
- sales. Many are administrators or managers.
-
- A mechanical engineer uses a CAD workstation to design an improved
- industrial lathe.
-
- Employment
-
- Mechanical engineers held about 227,000 jobs in 1992. More than 3
- out of 5 jobs were in manufacturing of these, most were in the
- machinery, transportation equipment, electrical equipment, instruments,
- and fabricated metal products industries. Business and
- engineering consulting services and government agencies provided
- most of the remaining jobs.
-
- Job Outlook
-
- Employment of mechanical engineers is expected to grow about as fast
- as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Although
- overall employment in manufacturing is expected to decline,
- employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase
- as the demand for machinery and machine tools grows and industrial
- machinery and processes become increasingly complex. Employment of
- mechanical engineers in other sectors of the economy, such as
- construction and services, is expected to grow faster than average
- as firms in these industries learn to apply these engineers' skills.
-
- Job prospects in this field should be favorable through the year
- 2005. Most of the expected job openings resulting from employment
- growth and the need to replace those who will leave the occupation
- should be sufficient to absorb the supply of new graduates and other
- entrants.
-
- Many mechanical engineering jobs are in defense related industries.
- Reductions in defense spending has and may continue to result in
- layoffs in these industries.
-
- Sources of Additional Information
-
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E. 47th St., New
- York, NY 10017.
-
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
- Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle NE., Atlanta, GA 30329.
-
- (See introductory part of this section for information on training
- requirements and earnings.)
-