← All 785 jobsFile 17-2141
Mechanical Engineers
Also filed here: Mechanical engineer
Lightly edited
AI performs some of this work. Most of it still needs a person. The BLS expects 11.2% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #141 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +11.2% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $104,110 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 298,500 in the US, with about 17,800 openings a year
The work, 51 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
Still yours: Develop systems or practices to mitigate or resolve environmental problems7%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Develop technical specifications for products or operations5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,901 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI helps with this: Research technology designs or applications5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 149 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze performance of systems or equipment4%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 563 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI does this: Implement procedures or processes4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 377 Copilot conversations and completed it 89% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data4%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 903 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.
AI does this: Develop models of systems, processes, or products4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,656 Copilot conversations and completed it 72% of the time.
AI does this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 237 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Design industrial systems or equipment3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Test performance of equipment or systems3%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,100 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
Still yours: Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
Still yours: Estimate project development or operational costs2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Present research or technical information2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Develop research plans or methodologies2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Read documents or materials to inform work processes2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 214 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
Still yours: Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Direct scientific or technical activities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Prepare proposals or grant applications2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 510 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
Still yours: Evaluate green technologies or processes1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Plan work activities1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 720 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Coordinate with others to resolve problems1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 738 conversations, and it got them there 83% of the time.
Still yours: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Design materials or devices1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 820 conversations, and it got them there 57% of the time.
Still yours: Operate industrial processing or production equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Maintain operational records1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Direct construction or extraction activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Investigate organizational or operational problems1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,383 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.
Still yours: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Design structures or facilities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Create visual designs or displays1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 78 conversations, and it got them there 40% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on products or services1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 42 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Research organizational behavior, processes, or performance1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,049 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
AI helps with this: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 222 conversations, and it got them there 93% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
Still yours: Install commercial or production equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Coordinate regulatory compliance activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,887 Copilot conversations and completed it 97% of the time.
AI helps with this: Identify business or organizational opportunities1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,883 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI does this: Promote products, services, or programs1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 111 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 17,800 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 57% of the workEngineers29% AI does, against 39% here+3.7% by 2035 · $122,930 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 35% of the workPetroleum Engineers28% AI does, against 39% here+2% by 2035 · $144,910 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 32% of the workMarine Engineers and Naval Architects27% AI does, against 39% here+6.7% by 2035 · $112,230 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.26, higher than 82% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 17-2141 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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