Occupation Profile

Industries Employing
 

Mechanical Engineers
(SOC Code : 17-2141)
in California

Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of such equipment as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

Employers are usually looking for candidates with a Bachelor's degree .

Occupational Wages[Top]
AreaYearPeriodHourly MeanHourly by Percentile
25thMedian75th
California 20231st Qtr$59.01$40.83$54.13$69.92

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")[Top]
 AreaEstimated Year-Projected YearEmploymentEmployment ChangeTotal Job Openings
EstimatedProjectedNumberPercent
California 2018 - 202829,70031,9002,2007.423,020

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange[Top]
 
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Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority[Top]
License Title
License Authority
Mechanical EngineerDepartment of Consumer Affairs
Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
Geologists and Geophysicists Program
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov

About Licenses
 

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)[Top]
Industry Title
Number of Employers in State of California
Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California
Architectural, Engineering, and Re18,73818.6%
Scientific Research and Developm10,12110.4%
Aerospace Product and Parts Manu60810.4%
Navigational, Measuring, Electro1,5058.0%
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component 1,6665.0%
Other General Purpose Machinery Mfg 1,0083.0%
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 3392.9%
Medical Equipment and Supplies M2,5682.3%
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, a1,1342.3%
Other Fabricated Metal Product Mfg 1,0962.0%
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 5191.7%
Commercial and Service Industry6451.7%
Employment Services5,0961.5%
Machine Shops; Turned Product; a3,4921.2%
Computer and Peripheral Equipmen5231.2%
Building Equipment Contractors 27,3861.1%
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manu6681.1%

About Staffing Patterns
 

Training Programs (click on title for more information)[Top]
Program Title
Mechanical Engineering

About Training & Apprenticeships
 

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)[Top]
Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.
Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems.
Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.
Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution.
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.

More Tasks for Mechanical Engineers , More Tasks for Fuel Cell Engineers, More Tasks for Automotive Engineers


Top Skills used in this Job
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

More Skills for Mechanical Engineers , More Skills for Fuel Cell Engineers, More Skills for Automotive Engineers


Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

More Abilities for Mechanical Engineers , More Abilities for Fuel Cell Engineers, More Abilities for Automotive Engineers


Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)
Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious.
Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

More WorkValues for Mechanical Engineers , More WorkValues for Fuel Cell Engineers, More WorkValues for Automotive Engineers


Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

More Interests for Mechanical Engineers , More Interests for Fuel Cell Engineers, More Interests for Automotive Engineers


Alternate Titles
Equipment Engineers; HVAC Engineers; Internal Combustion Engineers; Mechanical Design Engineers; Mechanical Research Engineers; Product Engineers; Tool and Die Engineers
 
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