Mechanical Engineers (17-2141)

Occupation description:  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.

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Career Ladder/Lattice

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Employment and Job Openings

  Average employment Average annual openings
  2010 estimate2020 projectionPercent change GrowthReplacementTotal
Alaska 307326 6.22 79
United States 243,200264,600 8.82,130 7,8309,960

Job outlook

  • Alaska: Alaska’s employment growth is low with moderate employment opportunities. Read more.


2012 Wages

  Mean Wage and
95% Confidence Interval
Wage by Percentile
  LowMeanHigh 10thMedian90th
United States n/a40.75n/a 25.0138.7458.43
Alaska 44.6349.9255.21 30.3945.3574.52
Anchorage/Mat-Su Area (MSA) 41.7148.9656.21 30.0744.8970.36
Fairbanks North Star Borough (MSA) 34.9844.5054.02 21.8040.1778.10
Balance of State 56.1860.6765.16 39.2460.1386.00

Labor Force Indicators

2011 Worker Characteristics
Total workersNonresident workers Percent nonresidentPercent age 45 plusPercent age 50 plus
368104 28.338.8 28.0
2011 Potential Supply
Qualified but working in another occupation30
Currently employed in a lower paid occupation8
UI claimants previously working in occupation63
2011 ALEXsys Employment Data
Number of registrants 285
Number of job position postings 112
Ratio of registrants to job position postings 2.5

Typical Entry-level Education, Experience, and/or On-the-job Training

Education: Bachelor’s degree Work experience: None On-the-job training: None

Training Resources

 DegreeFY2008–2010 reported exiters
University of Alaska Anchorage
Mech/Elect Engr Consortium, BS 0

 DegreeFY2008–2010 reported exiters
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Mechanical Engineering, BS 0
Mechanical Engineering, BS 0
Mechanical Engineering, MS 0
Mechanical Engineering, MS 0