OLMIS

by Jason Payton
Published Jun-23-2009

More Than Meets the Eye Engineers' Future Shifts Gears

How would you build your own talking 18-wheeler like the one from the summer blockbuster Transformers 2? You would need to understand material strengths and weaknesses. You would have to know the function of each part, and the stresses they would be put under. You would need the skills of a mechanical engineer, preferably one well versed in unearthly ray gun technology.

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering occupations. Mechanical engineers research and design machines or other mechanical devices. They may design power generating equipment like engines or turbines. They can work to develop transportation systems like elevators or escalators. They may also manufacture and test industrial production equipment.

Most mechanical engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree. Engineers who have completed a master's degree have a competitive edge in the job market. A professional engineering license is required for those engineers who offer their services directly to the public.

The skills and education of mechanical engineers demand high wages. The average wage for a mechanical engineer is above the state average. Half of Oregon mechanical engineers earned $35.12 an hour or more in 2008. The average annual wage was about $75,000.

The Oregon Employment Department estimates that in 2006 there were just over 2,800 mechanical engineering jobs in Oregon. More than half of those engineers worked in manufacturing. Over 34 percent of all mechanical engineers worked in either computer and electronics product manufacturing or machinery manufacturing. For instance, a recent job post on the Oregon State University Web site,  http://mime.oregonstate.edu, came from the manufacturer ViewPlus Technologies. The company designs high resolution brail embossers for the visually impaired and was looking for a mechanical engineer with skills in computer assisted design software and design experience with electro-mechanical systems.

Job growth in mechanical engineering will vary over the next decade. The outlook for mechanical engineers is better in Oregon than it is nationwide. The Oregon Employment Department projects mechanical engineer employment will grow about 10 percent between 2006 and 2016. Employment will grow slower than the state average for all occupations (14%), but faster than the 4 percent national growth rate for mechanical engineers.

Manufacturing employment is expected to decrease over the next decade. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects opportunities in professional, scientific, and technical service industries will replace the lost mechanical engineering jobs in manufacturing. Of all mechanical engineers, those with skills in biotechnology, material science, or nanotechnology will have the best opportunities in the future.