How to become a mechanical engineer

1. 1Build a strong math and physics base in high school

   Time: 4 years (high school)Sources 1

   Mechanical engineering degrees assume you can start calculus right away, so take math as far as your school offers, plus physics and chemistry. Shop classes, robotics teams and CAD or drafting electives are just as useful: they show you how parts are actually made and fit together. Building and fixing things, from bikes to 3D-printed parts, gives you material for college applications and early interviews.

2. 2Complete an ABET-accredited mechanical engineering degree

   Time: 4 yearsCost: $11,196/yr median public in-state tuitionSources 5, 6, 2

   The first two years are calculus, differential equations, physics, chemistry and statics. Then come dynamics, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, machine design and controls, with labs and a senior design project where a team builds something real. Most employers prefer an accredited program, and licensing boards usually require one, so check ABET's program search before you commit.

3. 3Get internship or co-op experience

   Time: 1-3 summers or work termsCost: Usually paidSources 1

   Manufacturers, automakers, aerospace firms and HVAC design consultancies all hire engineering students for summer internships. Co-op plans alternate paid work terms with school and can turn the degree into a 5-year program, but graduates leave with real design or test experience and often a job offer. Student teams such as Formula SAE or robotics competitions are another way to show hands-on skill.

4. 4Pass the FE Mechanical exam

   Time: One 6-hour appointmentCost: $225 (2026)Sources 3, 8

   The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the first exam toward a PE license. Choose the Mechanical discipline. NCEES gives it on computer year-round at Pearson test centers, with 110 questions and the reference handbook supplied on screen as a searchable PDF. Take it in your last year of school or soon after graduating, while statics, thermodynamics and fluids are still fresh. Those who pass are commonly called engineers in training (EIT) or engineer interns (EI).

5. 5Work under experienced engineers

   Time: About 4 yearsSources 2, 1

   New mechanical engineers usually start on parts of a larger design: detailing components, running calculations, supporting tests and fixing production issues. If you want a PE license, log your projects and supervisors as you go, because most states require about 4 years of progressive experience verified by licensed engineers. Engineers in manufacturing often never need a license, while building-systems designers usually do.

6. 6Pass the PE Mechanical exam and get licensed

   Time: One 9-hour appointment, plus board reviewCost: $400 exam fee (2026) plus state feesSources 4, 2

   The PE Mechanical exam comes in three versions: HVAC and Refrigeration, Machine Design and Materials, and Thermal and Fluid Systems. Each has 80 questions over 8 hours and is offered year-round by computer at Pearson centers. HVAC and Refrigeration fits building-systems engineers; Machine Design suits product designers. After you pass, your state board reviews your degree, experience and references and issues the license.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

3D CAD modeling

Nearly every part and assembly now starts as a solid model, and clean models and drawings are what machinists and suppliers build from.

Engineering analysis

Stress, heat transfer and fluid calculations decide whether a bracket cracks or a cooling loop keeps up, often before any prototype exists.

Hands-on mechanical sense

Knowing how parts are machined, welded, molded and assembled keeps designs affordable and buildable.

Testing and root-cause analysis

When a part fails in the field, you need a methodical way to separate design flaws from bad material or misuse.

Working across disciplines

Mechanical designs share space with wiring, software and structure, so you constantly trade off requirements with other engineers.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, mathematics, science.

Training cost

$44.8K–$45.4K

Before financial aid

Time

4-5 years to start; about 8 years to a PE license

Typical path

Median pay

$104,110

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 4 years x College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for mechanical engineering bachelor's programs, $11,196 = $44,784. High: the same degree plus the NCEES FE exam fee of $225 and PE Mechanical exam fee of $400 in 2026. Not included: fees, books, housing, state board application fees, a fifth year for co-op or a master's, and out-of-state or private tuition, which can be several times higher. Graduates carry a median federal loan debt of $21,000.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Professional Engineer and lead engineer

  With a PE license and several years of experience, engineers lead design teams and stamp drawings, especially in building-systems consulting.

• Engineering manager

  Engineers with strong project records move into management; some add an MBA or a master's in engineering management.

• Aerospace engineer$134,960 median

  Mechanical engineers often move into aircraft and spacecraft work, sometimes with a master's in aerospace engineering.

• Biomedical engineer$109,370 median

  Medical device companies hire mechanical engineers; a graduate degree or coursework in biomechanics or physiology helps.

• Construction manager$114,990 median

  Engineers who design building systems can move into managing construction projects, often after field experience and a construction management credential.