Mechanical engineers

Perform 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.

AI Resistance Index 38 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 38% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +11.2% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on creative vision.

AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.

Median pay (2025): $104,110
Job growth to 2035: +11.2%
Openings a year: 17,800
People doing it (2025): 298,000
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Implement procedures or processes
Develop technical specifications for products or operations
Research technology designs or applications

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Develop systems or practices to mitigate or resolve environmental problems
Design industrial systems or equipment
Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment

What the work looks like

Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

More of these jobs, as growing automation and innovation of mechanical and machinery products, equipment, and systems drive demand for mechanical engineers to design, develop, test, and maintain them.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Agricultural engineersGrows with AI, Index 66, +6.9%
Materials engineersGrows with AI, Index 61, +7.5%
Marine engineers and naval architectsGrows with AI, Index 51, +6.7%
Industrial engineersGrows with AI, Index 39, +12.4%

Also known as: Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer, Engineer, Fuel Cell Engineer, Research Engineer, Stack Engineer.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.