15 of the Best Types of Mechanical Engineer Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Mechanical Engineer jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Mechanical Engineer Jobs

• Director Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $74,500 - $145,000

  A director is a low-level executive in a company or organization that is responsible for a particular project, region, or division. A director of a company is employed to manage the day-to-day business activities of a group or division within an organization. There are different types of directors, but they are all tasked with leading others and meeting the goals of the organization. Directors plan, execute and manage to reach a goal. For example, the sales director would oversee the sales for a particular product or area. An HR director would be tasked with screening applicants and hiring the right candidates, making sure to comply with all employment laws and settling any personnel issues.

• Senior Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $104,500 - $138,000

  The first step towards working as a senior mechanical engineer is to hold a bachelor’s degree in an engineering field. Some positions may require advanced degrees in engineering or business administration. Aspiring senior mechanical engineers should have excellent computer and communication skills, as well as the ability to manage and direct a team.

• Mechanical Engineer Manager

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Union Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  For those who work for unions, some of the specific jobs include researchers, organizers, administrators, lawyers, communications workers, and clerical staff. Your duties include entering workplaces to speak with workers and provide them encouragement and support if they are interested in joining a specific union, or to negotiate with employers for better working conditions, pay, or benefits for union members. There are numerous types of unions, including health care, public sector, construction, writing, and service workers unions, and they represent a variety of professions, such as nurses, journalists, manufacturers, construction workers, municipal workers, and hotel workers, to name only a few.

• Mechanical Engineer Co Op

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  The qualifications you need for a Co-Op job depend on the application requirements at your school and the organization where you want to work. You must be an officially enrolled student at your college or university, and GPA and credit hour requirements are typical. Some companies prefer Co-Op students whose major aligns with the industry. You must have strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and practice a variety of new tasks and job duties. Your responsibilities are to apply your learning to your Co-Op work experience and be a punctual and motivated employee.

• Summer Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Mechanical Engineer Temporary

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  As a temporary mechanical engineer, your job is to support a company for the duration of your assignment, which is usually until a specific project is completed. In this role, you may help plan the construction of a building, determine the industrial needs of the project, help obtain any materials the blueprint design requires, provide design recommendations, and maintain the equipment used throughout the project. You may use a handheld device to scan or check materials. Temporary mechanical engineers work on projects of various sizes; you may install single pieces of delicate equipment in an existing building, or plan the removal and reinstallation of walls, ceilings, or support structures.

• Full Time Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Executive Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Junior Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $63,500 - $82,500

  The qualifications that you need to become a junior mechanical engineer include an engineering degree and previous experience. Most employers prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, though some accept applicants with a degree in a related engineering discipline. You can gain experience by working in an internship during your college studies. Your duties include working with computer-aided design software, so you need to have computer skills. After graduation, you can take an exam to become an engineer in training (EIT). You can expect to handle entry-level responsibilities for a few years before advancing to a senior position.

• Entry Level Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $56,000 - $78,000

  To become an entry-level mechanical engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or product design. Some employers prefer a master’s degree in the field. You must pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to earn your engineering license in order to qualify for entry-level mechanical engineer jobs. Once you gain four years of work experience, you can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam to level up to a Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• Freelance Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $56,000 - $78,000

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.

• Trainee Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $56,000 - $78,000

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

• Internship Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $37,500 - $50,500

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.

• Apprentice Mechanical Engineer

  Salary range: $36,000 - $50,000

  Apprentice Mechanical Engineer is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Apprentice Mechanical Engineer jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $50,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Apprentice Mechanical Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.