Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

Mechanical Engineers

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

Also called: Application Engineer, Design Engineer, Equipment Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanical Designer, Mechanical Engineer

Compare with my current job (Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$119,300
$57.36/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
6,890
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+5.3%
540 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$80,280$97,660$119,300$140,870$166,900

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
  • Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
  • Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
  • Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
  • Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
  • Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure73 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 72
  • Language-model AIOE 65
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 81

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is higher, and some mechanical engineers already use AI tools. Tools can help with reading technical drawings, running design checks, and looking through reports. They do not replace the hands-on work of installing equipment, diagnosing failures, and working with other people. Massachusetts employment is projected to grow 5.3% from 2024 to 2034.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing drawings and technical reports
  • Evaluating and refining early product designs

Still relies on people

  • Diagnosing why real equipment fails
  • Working with teams to solve problems

What federal projections say

“Demand change - share increases as growing automation and innovation of mechanical and machinery products, equipment, and systems drive demand for mechanical engineers to design, develop, test, and maintain them.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Architectural and Engineering Managers

    Your design and project experience carries over to reviewing and approving design changes, and this role has a Boston median pay of $205,130.

    Pay difference
    +$85,830 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +0.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Industrial Production Managers

    Your knowledge of equipment and specifications helps you set product standards and run production, with Boston median pay of $153,210 and lower AI exposure.

    Pay difference
    +$33,910 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +2.3%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Reading blueprints carries over to this hands-on trade, which has much lower AI exposure and 6.1% projected growth, but you would train through an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$1,540 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

12 programs near Boston (plus 13 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach