Final

Alex Smith

Professor Kerr

EN 101-23

September 27, 2011

Mechanical Engineering vs. Computer Engineering

                Engineering is made up of many different fields. From those fields, one can go into a very broad array of job opportunities.  In today’s world of work force competition and desire for stable employment, engineering continues to provide the necessary training and opportunities to provide true vocational security.  Mechanical and computer engineering are two specific fields of engineering, each having its own unique array of job opportunities, salaries, and educational requirements. 

                Mechanical engineering is a career that provides many job options and a good income.  These opportunities are well earned through a good education. An average starting salary for a mechanical engineer is about $56,000.  Salaries range from about $25,000 to approximately $70,000, all of which are salaries based on engineers with bachelor degrees “Michigan Tech Salaries”. With additional education, a starting mechanical engineer with a master’s degree will make an average income of $62,978, and with a doctoral degree will earn an average annual wage of $72,763 “Mechanical Engineer Jobs”. The total overall average salary of a mechanical engineer, regardless of education and work experience, is $76,000 “Indeed”.   In order to become a mechanical engineer, the minimum education is a bachelor’s degree.  Mechanical engineers require a strong background in upper level mathematics, including Calculus 1 and 2 and Multivariate Calculus “Drexel”. If a mechanical engineer’s work affects the lives of people, or if he/she works privately, then a license for the state in which he/she works is required “Mechanical Engineering jobs”. Some companies require a master’s degree due to job competition, and in order to teach at a university or do research, a doctoral degree is required “Mechanical Engineering Jobs”. As a result of their comprehensive education, there is a vast array of job options available to mechanical engineers. Mechanical engineering is an all-purpose degree “Career Tool”. A mechanical engineer’s chance of finding employment is high, because of the broad range of options “Career Tool”. The field of employment for mechanical engineers includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing, robotics, automatic transportation, and air conditioning “Michigan Tech”.

                Computer Engineering is another career that provides good salaries and job opportunities. A starting salary for a computer engineer is about $62,000, with salaries ranging from $47,840 to approximately $103,000 “Michigan Tech Salaries”. In comparison to a mechanical engineer’s starting salary, a computer engineer’s is significantly greater. At $88,000, the average salary for a computer engineer is more than fifteen percent greater than that of a mechanical engineer’s “Indeed”. In order to become a computer engineer, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, the same as for mechanical engineering. Computer engineers must have a thorough knowledge of computers and computer software “E-How”, as well as the mathematics required for mechanical engineers. Computer Engineering has been the fastest growing field in engineering, with continued projected growth “NCSU”. Computer engineering involves diverse areas of work, such as home automation, environmental controls, games and toys, automobile control systems and intelligent vehicle highway systems, biomedical devices, industrial robotics voice/speech recognition, wireless communications, networking, and computer intelligence “NCSU”.  

                Mechanical and computer engineering are both prestigious careers with many benefits.  The options in either field of study are diverse enough to appeal to most individuals who are up to the challenge of the rigorous educational requirements.  For those with an interest in mathematics and science, as well as a sense of creativity, mechanical and computer engineering can provide a career that is both financially rewarding and intellectually stimulating.  For those individuals with a desire to understand how things work and to create new machines of virtually any type, then mechanical engineering would likely be the appropriate career choice.  If working with the design and development of computer software and electronic devices is more appealing, then computer engineering would be the vocation of preference.  If either of these professions is appealing to an individual, then they will likely find great satisfaction and financial security with the occupations of mechanical and computer engineering.

Work Cited

 “Career Tool”      "Mechanical Engineering Career Center." Career Toolkits | Career Profiles. Web. 02 Oct. 2011. <http://www.careertoolkits.com/mechanical-engineering/>.

“CNBC”                 "News Headlines." CNBC Mobile Home. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.cnbc.com/id/29408064/Highest_Paid_Bachelor_s_Degrees_2010?slide=7>.

“Drexel”               "Degree Requirements: Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics." Drexel University - Comprehensive, Integrated Academics Enhanced by Co-operative Education, Technology, and Research Opportunities. | Drexel University. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.drexel.edu/catalog/DEGREE/mech.htm>.

“E-How”               Bianca, Audra. "Educational Requirements for a Computer Engineer | EHow.com." EHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life | EHow.com. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5058931_educational-requirements-computer-engineer.html>.

“Indeed”             "Computer Engineer Salary | Indeed.com." Job Search | One Search. All Jobs. Indeed.com. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.indeed.com/salary/Computer-Engineer.html>.

“Mechanical Engineering Jobs.”                 "Mechanical Engineer Jobs." Mechanical Engineer Job | Career Opportunities and Growth.. 2009. Web. 14 Sept. 2011. <http://www.mechanicalengineerjob.net/>.

              “Michigan Tech.”                "Mechanical Engineering: What Is It?" Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech. Michigan Technological University, 10 June 2010. Web. 14 Sept. 2011. <http://www.me.mtu.edu/admin/whatme.html>.    

“Michigan Tech Salaries”               "Engineering Salary Statistics | College of Engineering." College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.doe.mtu.edu/news/degree_worth.html>.

“NCSU”                                "Computer Engineering : What Can I Do With A Major In..." North Carolina State University :: Welcome to North Carolina State University. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=50>.