If you are wondering, can I make a good career in mechanical engineering, then you have come to the right place.
Yes, you can definitely chart out a rewarding career in Mechanical Engineering as it has vast opportunities in the public sector and corporate companies.
According to NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), India’s share in the global engineering and research and development (ER&D) market is likely to touch $63 billion by 2025.
This clearly indicates that the future of mechanical engineering is bright.
As more and more multinational companies (MNCs) are shifting focus towards R&D, the profession of mechanical engineering is likely to get a boost in the coming months. Especially in the context of India, mechanical engineering is the second most preferred discipline among students after computer science.
According to a Statista report, over 684,000 enrolled in mechanical engineering in India in 2020 for undergraduate degree programs. After completing your engineering degree in mechanical engineering, you can expect to have plenty of job opportunities in hand. You can get a well-paid job in manufacturing, testing, automotive, aeronautics, and aerospace among others.
Considering the future prospect of being a mechanical engineer, it’s brilliant to consider a career in mechanical engineering.
Okay, enough about stats now. Let us straight get to the point and see if mechanical engineering is a good career option or not.
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Is mechanical engineering good for a future career?
If you see it from a monetary perspective then yes!
Mechanical engineering can provide you with a well-defined career path and a highly lucrative salary package. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) statistics says on average the median annual salary for mechanical engineers was around $88,430 in 2019.
You can expect to have a higher salary package if you have a few more years of work experience under your belt.
In India, however, the salary packages are a little less, around Rs.3.80 lakhs per annum. Apart from lucrative pay packages and perks, mechanical engineers also enjoy good promotional opportunities in their job hierarchy.
Now if we talk from the perspective of the scope of work then, mechanical engineering has a large number of functional areas, including basic design, testing, and manufacturing.
After completing your studies in mechanical engineering, you can get an opportunity to work in various industries that lay emphasis on these functional areas mentioned above.
Top 10 Industries Where You Can Excel As A Mechanical Engineer
Let us now see the top 10 industries where you can expect to work after successfully completing your mechanical engineering degree:
- Automotive Sector
- Railways
- Steel Plants
- Robotics
- Thermodynamics
- Kinematics
- Structural Analysis
- Fluid Mechanics
- Defense
- Aerospace Industry and many more
There’s no lack of job opportunities for talented and skilled mechanical engineers. Be it aerospace, robotics, artificial intelligence, rocket science, or thermodynamics, every engineering marvel that we see around us is possible only because of mechanical engineering.
After completing your degree in mechanical engineering, you can choose any relevant job in this field as per your personal preference and interest.
Some of the popular job designations for which you can apply with a mechanical engineering degree are quality control executive, project engineer, design engineer, assistant engineer, trainee engineer, etc. As a mechanical engineering degree holder, you can start your job as a trainee engineer and ultimately retire as the chief engineer if you do not switch fields.
Benefits of Becoming a Mechanical Engineer
Being a qualified mechanical engineer speaks for itself. Once you become a qualified mechanical engineer, the sky’s the limit! Here are some benefits of becoming a mechanical engineer:
1. Beneficial to the Society
As a mechanical engineer, you have a golden opportunity to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges like clean water, unpolluted atmosphere, clean energy, and others.
For example, with hard work and dedication, you could invent AI-enabled gadgets to solve problems that our aging population is currently facing. Be it a tablet popping medicine to a smart home, the scope of mechanical engineering goes beyond what humans can imagine.
2. Expand Your Knowledge
The course curriculum of mechanical engineering is vast. Unlike other disciplines of engineering, here you not just concentrate on your base subject, but also learn about various machines and engineering marvels. For example, mechanical engineering can help you know more about robots, cranes, automotive vehicles, railway engines, energy elevators, escalators, and even nanotechnology.
3. World’s Best Job Opportunities
Mechanical engineers are always in demand. The involvement of these professional engineers in any engineering project is maximum. Starting from overseeing a railway project to inspecting an oil rig, a degree in mechanical engineering can help you be part of it.
4. Career Advancement and Growth
Mechanical engineers can expect steady career growth and advancement. They can also pursue advanced degree programs to further their knowledge and skills. These professionals can also become research professionals, college educators, subject matter experts, or senior engineers with a few years of experience. A mechanical engineer can also work on cutting-edge engineering projects for an exciting career ahead. Their salaries can increase exponentially with a few years of experience in handling projects.
Especially, when it comes to salary and perks, the compensation that a mechanical engineer earns is second to none!
Are mechanical engineers paid well?
As already mentioned, mechanical engineers are the most sought-after engineering professionals after CS engineers. Mechanical engineers receive globally competitive salary packages in any industry that they serve. Also, don’t forget that in India, the retention range of mechanical engineers in a company is quite high because it’s not easy to find these professionals at short-term notice.
You’d be surprised to know that an experienced mechanical engineer receives a salary that is twice the annual CTC that an IT engineer gets. According to Payscale, the average annual salary for a mechanical engineer in India is Rs. 380,879, but with 5 years of experience, the salary figure would touch Rs. 529,000.
Moreover, you can improve your career prospects more with a Master’s degree in the same discipline. Doing so can further help you draw a higher salary package.
Conclusion
Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest branches of science and material management in all its forms from design, manufacture, testing, and final operation of machines. The supply of Mechanical Engineers in India’s job market is far less than its total demand. So, it certainly makes sense to pursue a career in mechanical engineering for rewarding career prospects and growth opportunities.
