Any Engineers? Specifically Mechanical

I am a college sutdent and i am studying to be a mechanical engineer. I was wondering how you like being an engineer. Is it a rewarding career. Do you like what you do. How is the pay? I've always wanted to meet an engineer but don't know any. Just give me your general opinion on engineering. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

well, that's a coincidence! I too am studing to be a mechanical engineer, and have been wondering the same thing lately... so I talked to one. A guy who works at Union Pacific Railroad, says he gets around 17 dollars an hour just working on the trains. I bet I could do better than trains! So I figure ~20 bucks an hour. And if you are into working with your hands, not just sittng at a comp, then you picked a good engineering feild! If not, you might want to talk to your academic advisor!

I'm not an engineer, but I know a few mechanical. It's the field I want to study in college (I start in a little less than a year). Right now there are a lot of job openings for engineers. This is good if you're an engineer . :D bad if you're the country. :( Also, engineers are starting to get paid signing bonuses, just like with Major League sports. So I'm definitely looking forward to college! http://www.plauder-smilies.de/person/jaybee.gif

Hey, I'm studying Mechanical Engineering too. Welcome to the club!

A big w00t for you! :)

I've been a mechanical engineer for the last 28 years.... Now I own my own business. Engineering is great but I found my best skills were in management. You can make almost as much money in engineering but you need to find a company that understands the dual career path --- engineering and management-- and pays well whether you're a excellent technical person or an excellent manager.

If you want to be an engineer, it requires you to be very detail oriented to the max.

Good entry level mechanical engineers should be able to command 20 USD/hr. 10 yrs experience should get you 30 USD/hr.

When you get your first job, work on ANYTHING... Get to know how the other areas of the company function. The more experience you get as quickly as possible, the more you will be worth. Spend your time finding out how to get things done, making them happen and reporting on the results to your boss. Some new engineers spend their time explaining/calculating why something can't be done. Stay away from these people-- become one of the "can-do" people that are creative enough to find a way to get anything done.

I've always enjoyed what I was doing but enjoy work even more now that I don't have to answer to anyone. The experience from my past jobs allowed me to run my own business.

I am studying to be an engineer at Kettering University (formerly GMI) in Flint, MI. If you are interested in cars and you want to be an ME, I would strongly recommend taking a look at this school. You can do some research at www.kettering.edu As far as engineering is concerned, it is a rewarding career choice. As a part of my schooling students are required to do co-op terms at an employer of their choice. It makes me want to be an engineer even more. I would recommend talking to any engineers you know in person because then you can read more into their reactions rather than just words. Overall I think you should go after it because it is very cool stuff and it is a great profession.

I'd be going into HVAC. My dad is a mech-E, after I graduate from Polytechnic, I goto work with him, and eventually take over. :)

There are at least 10 engineers at my church. But NONE of them are doing engineering. All of them got hired as engineers, but were quickly moved to management. (read: cushier jobs, higher salaries!)

Well, I'm an Aeronautical Engineer. I have some mechanical experience, too bad no one gives a shit.

Originally posted by DVSNCYNIKL
Well, I'm an Aeronautical Engineer. I have some mechanical experience, too bad no one gives a shit.

Bah, Try being a philosopher! :flipa:

I done my time working and training on the railways to become a engineer.
The job is good, pays well and the hours suit my life style.
Its a bloodly dirty job. Covered in all kinds of shit when you have to get under them to fix them.

The trade is a very good one as it gives you a good out look on any type of mechanical job you wish to do later on in live.

Originally posted by Jumbo789
I am studying to be an engineer at Kettering University (formerly GMI) in Flint, MI. If you are interested in cars and you want to be an ME, I would strongly recommend taking a look at this school. You can do some research at www.kettering.edu As far as engineering is concerned, it is a rewarding career choice. As a part of my schooling students are required to do co-op terms at an employer of their choice. It makes me want to be an engineer even more. I would recommend talking to any engineers you know in person because then you can read more into their reactions rather than just words. Overall I think you should go after it because it is very cool stuff and it is a great profession.

that's exactly what i'm looking at right now.

Hey guys thanks for all of the incite. I am definately looking forward to becoming a mechanical engineer. I really want to work for NASA. I love cars but its always been a dream of mine to work for NASA.

NASA is cooler, you get to build/design psycho thrust propulsion systems and send people to other planets. You also get like unlimited funds. I want to be a car powerplant engineer, I figure I can improve upon the iNternal Combustion Engine but I don't know how yet.

Originally posted by Moppie


Bah, Try being a philosopher! :flipa:

I wouldn't mind that. I get to badger people and get payed to do it.:D:D

Originally posted by DVSNCYNIKL


I wouldn't mind that. I get to badger people and get payed to do it.:D:D


You do that already in here....but for FREE

:finger: :finger:

Originally posted by primera man



but for FREE

:finger: :finger:

Yeah, but the second part needs to change.:D:D

I want to be a car powerplant engineer, I figure I can improve upon the iNternal Combustion Engine but I don't know how yet.



i got the same problem...

Originally posted by hermunn123



i got the same problem...


LOL, So far I've ruled out the external Combustion process.

Originally posted by DVSNCYNIKL


I wouldn't mind that. I get to badger people and get payed to do it.:D:D

The badgering is fun, but try finding someone to pay you for it! :flipa:


At least with an enginering degree a job is far easier to get.
I all the enginering friends I have have jobs lined up for when they graduate, or when they graduated walked straight into good jobs.
And one of them will make more money in her 1st year than two friends with LLb's

I'm not an engineer yet. I'm still have 2-3 years of school till I get my degree. The gameplan is to transfer to Kettering or OU in the next year or so. I work in Telephony Engineering (Cable TV, telephone, DSL, broadband, PCS,ect..). Engineers start out here at around 40-50gs a year (Oklahoma) and the sky's the limit as far as how much you can make. I've met chemical engineers who make 300-500g's a year and non-degreed engineers who barely scrape 25gs. The market is broad as lately people love to slap the engineer title on just about anything. Keep at it and get your degree and you'll be amazed at what happens. People don't seem to realize you should learn to do something so you can make an income when you graduate. I'd like to become an automotive engineer when I graduate and hope I get accepted to Kettering. Oh, one more thing don't take out any student loans to get your education. We have people here who have done that and the payments stick around longer than your children will. Good luck!:)