If you've wondered how architecture has evolved over the years and know you have a lot to contribute to future building designs, you might want to consider mechanical engineering as your career. Currently, 22 percent of all engineers choose mechanical engineering as their specialty. As with other areas of engineering, typically a four–year degree with a commitment to continuing education through the years is required to remain current in this ever–evolving field. If you're a studying engineer, you might be interested to know engineering graduates can expect to earn more than any other degreed position. Projections include an annual 4 percent increase in job demand over the next ten years. Although this is a bit slower than other engineering specialties, it's still an excellent choice for an engineer. Job markets remain consistent since most mechanical engineers choose the manufacturing sector. On average, a recent graduate can expect to earn around $55,000 with a realistic expectation of over one hundred thousand after having established himself or herself.

Industries that benefit from mechanical engineering include electro-medical manufacturing, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, and scientific research and development services; the top-paying industries include drug merchant wholesalers with an average hourly rate of $53.00 and electronic and precision equipment, with an average hourly rate of $44.00. You also might be interested to know the state with the most mechanical engineers is Michigan, with approximately 23,600 licensed and residing in its borders. The state with the highest-paid mechanical engineers is Idaho, with only 520 mechanical engineers licensed who earn on average $45.00 per hour. Hawaii comes in second, with 320 licensed in this specialty who earn $44.00 per hour. Important to remember is that these figures do not reflect independent contractors who are in business for themselves.

Another fast-rising specialty is industrial engineering. Currently, there are 227,000 licensed industrial engineers in the United States, with an expected growth rate of 20 percent over the next decade, it is considered one of the fastest-growing specialties. This is an ideal sub-study for those wishing to eventually enter into company-management positions. Many companies, especially now with the unstable American economy, are looking for more efficient ways of doing business and are often seeking to fill positions with staff who are already on board and have a proven track record. Industrial engineers are usually given tasks that will reduce costs while allowing more efficient processes to be incorporated in the process. For those detail-oriented and thorough engineers, it’s not uncommon to find them in the industrial sector.

Salary statistics reveal a median income of $73,000, while the top 10 percent earn approximately $101,000. Starting salaries for industrial engineers hover near the $55,000 income range.

You may be wondering what an ideal candidate who’s recently graduated with an engineering degree looks like to potential employers. The top-five skills and qualities include strong communication abilities, exceptional work ethic, a thorough knowledge of his trade, teamwork skills (especially important since engineering is often the largest department in many companies), initiative, and positive interpersonal skills.

Recently, a new study revealed many employers are now incorporating searches on popular networking sites, such as FaceBook and MySpace, as part of their internal background investigations. If you have a site such as these, it’s strongly advised that you clean it up and ensure it represents a professional on the fast track to a successful career instead of one that paints the picture of an irresponsible graduate who hasn’t outgrown the party scene. At the very least, construct a separate site that enhances your achievements and make note of it on your resume. Other factors that will play a role in how successful you can be as an engineer mirror those of any other position: responsibility, eagerness to take on new projects, availability (and yes, this includes weekends and the occasional holiday), and basic skills we learn as we’re growing up like respect, a neat appearance, and a professional presentation during work hours.

Solid candidates who are offered engineering positions are usually offered benefits packages, including health insurance (and sometimes dental and vision, depending on the company), a 401k plan, paid vacation, and sometimes paid personal days. Again, this is standard for all professional positions, but if you’ve worked for four years to earn your degree, part of the benefit of your sacrifice usually includes a solid employment package.

Referencing BLS statistics again, not only do those with degrees earn more throughout the course of their lives, but the chances of unemployment drastically decrease for those who continue to further their education, lending credence to the old saying, “the more you learn, the more you earn.” The unemployment rates for those with only a high school diploma are 4 percent; those with some college have an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent; an associate degree keeps the unemployment rate at around 2.5 percent, a bachelor’s degree at 1.9 percent, a master’s degree keeps pace at 1.6 percent, a doctorate at 1.4 percent, and those with professional degrees are the least likely to suffer unemployment, with numbers at 1.3 percent.

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