Careers
A mechanical engineer can work in industries such as aerospace, automobile, combustion engines and fuels, fluid machinery, manufacturing and construction and building sciences. A postgraduate of mechanical engineering has a host of career opportunities in other fields, such as law, business and medicine. A lawyer with a mechanical engineering degree can have a very lucrative career in patent or products liability law.

Employment opportunities in management are more available for the mechanical engineer who has a master's degree in engineering or business administration. Additionally, mechanical engineers with a postgraduate degree in biomedical engineering might work for private medical companies or hospitals developing hip replacements, prosthetics, robotic surgical equipment or diagnostic and treatment equipment.

Salary
According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May, 2011, mechanical engineers earned an average annual income of $83,550.

The industries with the highest concentration of mechanical engineers were:
Engine, turbine and power transmission equipment manufacturing
Industrial machinery manufacturing
Motor vehicle manufacturing
Architectural, engineering and related services
Railroad rolling stock manufacturing
The industries with the highest levels of employment were:
Architectural, engineering and related services
Federal executive branch (Occupation Employment Statistics (OES) designation)
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
Navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing

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