Mechanical Engineers
Architecture and Engineering Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 17-2141.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.081
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.32
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only28 rated tasks · 24 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (85.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.17-2141.00 | 0.007828.0 |
Provide technical customer service.17-2141.00 | 0.006824.3 |
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.17-2141.00 | 0.003914.0 |
Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.17-2141.00 | 0.003613.1 |
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.17-2141.00 | 0.003010.7 |
Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement.17-2141.00 | 0.00279.8 |
| Not observed on any surface — 22 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information. | —0 |
Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs. | —0 |
Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications. | —0 |
Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems. | —0 |
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs. | —0 |
Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products. | —0 |
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements. | —0 |
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification. | —0 |
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations. | —0 |
Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software. | —0 |
Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects. | —0 |
Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition. | —0 |
Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. | —0 |
Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering. | —0 |
Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges. | —0 |
Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency. | —0 |
Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems. | —0 |
Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact. | —0 |
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints. | —0 |
Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution. | —0 |
Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers. | —0 |
Solicit new business. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.O*NET Task ID 1429 | 1.0 |
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.O*NET Task ID 1411 | 0.5 |
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.O*NET Task ID 1412 | 0.5 |
Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.O*NET Task ID 1413 | 0.5 |
Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs.O*NET Task ID 1418 | 0.5 |
Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems.O*NET Task ID 1420 | 0.5 |
Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.O*NET Task ID 1421 | 0.5 |
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.O*NET Task ID 1423 | 0.5 |
Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition.O*NET Task ID 1427 | 0.5 |
Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering.O*NET Task ID 1430 | 0.5 |
Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products.O*NET Task ID 1431 | 0.5 |
Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.O*NET Task ID 19627 | 0.5 |
Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.O*NET Task ID 19628 | 0.5 |
Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.O*NET Task ID 19630 | 0.5 |
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.O*NET Task ID 19631 | 0.5 |
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.O*NET Task ID 20733 | 0.5 |
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.O*NET Task ID 20734 | 0.5 |
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.O*NET Task ID 20735 | 0.5 |
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.O*NET Task ID 20736 | 0.5 |
Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.O*NET Task ID 20737 | 0.5 |
Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects.O*NET Task ID 20738 | 0.5 |
Solicit new business.O*NET Task ID 20740 | 0.5 |
Provide technical customer service.O*NET Task ID 20741 | 0.5 |
Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement.O*NET Task ID 20742 | 0.5 |
Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.O*NET Task ID 1419 | 0.0 |
Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems.O*NET Task ID 19629 | 0.0 |
Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution.O*NET Task ID 19632 | 0.0 |
Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers.O*NET Task ID 20739 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (28)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports. | Core |
| Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information. | Core |
| Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications. | Core |
| Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs. | Core |
| Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications. | Core |
| Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems. | Core |
| Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions. | Core |
| Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs. | Core |
| Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. | Core |
| Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements. | Core |
| Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions. | Core |
| Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification. | Core |
| Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations. | Core |
| Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software. | Core |
| Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects. | Core |
| Provide technical customer service. | Core |
| Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition. | Supplemental |
| Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering. | Supplemental |
| Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products. | Supplemental |
| Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges. | Supplemental |
| Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency. | Supplemental |
| Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems. | Supplemental |
| Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact. | Supplemental |
| Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints. | Supplemental |
| Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution. | Supplemental |
| Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers. | Supplemental |
| Solicit new business. | Supplemental |
| Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement. | Supplemental |
0.00/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
None of this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks is classified as a physical task.
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 17-2141 group (Mechanical engineers), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 299K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 332K
- Change (2025–35)
- +11.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $104,110
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23511 | 금형공학 기술자 및 연구원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23513 | 냉난방‧공조공학 기술자 및 연구원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23514 | 건설기계공학 기술자 및 연구원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23515 | 산업기계공학 기술자 및 연구원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23519 | 그 외 기계공학 기술자 및 연구원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 23124 | 건축설비 기술자 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 23512 | 플랜트공학 기술자 및 연구원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2144Mechanical Engineers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Mechanical engineers conduct research; advise on, design and direct production of machines, aircraft, ships, machinery and industrial plant, equipment and systems; advise on and direct their functioning, maintenance and repair; or study and advise on mechanical aspects of particular materials, products or processes.
Tasks
- (a) advising on and designing machinery and tools for manufacturing, mining, construction, agricultural, and other industrial purposes;
- (b) advising on and designing steam, internal combustion and other non-electric motors and engines used for propulsion of railway locomotives, road vehicles or aircraft, or for driving industrial or other machinery;
- (c) advising on and designing: hulls, superstructures and propulsion systems of ships; mechanical plant and equipment for the release, control and utilization of energy; heating, ventilation and refrigeration systems, steering gear, pumps and other mechanical equipment;
- (d) advising on and designing airframes, undercarriages and other equipment for aircraft as well as suspension systems, brakes, vehicle bodies and other components of road vehicles;
- (e) advising on and designing non-electrical parts of apparatus or products such as word processors, computers, precision instruments, cameras and projectors;
- (f) establishing control standards and procedures to ensure efficient functioning and safety of machines, machinery, tools, motors, engines, industrial plant, equipment, or systems;
- (g) ensuring that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards.
Example occupations
Aeronautical engineer · Engine designer · Marine architect · Marine engineer · Mechanical engineer
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- mechanical engineerESCO 2144.1Same scope
Mechanical engineers research, plan and design mechanical products and systems and supervise the fabrication, operation, application, installation and repair of systems and products. They research and analyse data.
- engine designerESCO 2144.1.5This occupation is broader
Engine designers carry out engineering duties in designing mechanical equipment such as machines and all types of engines. They also supervise their installation and maintenance.
- mine mechanical engineerESCO 2144.1.12This occupation is broader
Mine mechanical engineers supervise the procurement, installation, removal and maintenance of mining mechanical equipment, using their knowledge of mechanical specifications. They organise the replacement and repair of mechanical equipment and components.
- precision engineerESCO 2144.1.17This occupation is broader
Precision engineers design processes, machines, fixtures and other equipment that have exceptionally low engineering tolerances, are repeatable and stable over time. They ensure prototypes are built and tested and make sure the designs meet system specifications and operational requirements.
- rotating equipment engineerESCO 2144.1.19This occupation is broader
Rotating equipment engineers develop designs and specifications for rotating equipment according to any applicable standards. They also provide technical expertise and help ensure that all new and existing equipment installations are completed.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H1238 | Chef / Cheffe de projet conception industrielle en mécanique | This occupation is broader |
| H1206 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure R&D en industrie | Overlapping, not the same |
| I1121 | Ingénieur de maintenance / Ingénieure de maintenance | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2433 | Ingenieros mecánicos | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 2463 | Ingenieros técnicos mecánicos | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 3126 | Técnicos en mecánica | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 25104 | Berufe in der Maschinenbau- und Betriebstechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Same scope |
| 24524 | Berufe in der Werkzeugtechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 25184 | Berufe in der Maschinenbau- und Betriebstechnik (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 25254 | Berufe in der Zweiradtechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 34214 | Berufe in der Sanitär-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 34234 | Berufe in der Kältetechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 34344 | Berufe im Anlagen-, Behälter- und Apparatebau - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 27224 | Berufe in der Konstruktion und im Gerätebau - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 25134 | Technische Servicekräfte in Wartung und Instandhaltung - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 34324 | Berufe im Rohrleitungsbau - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 073 | 機械技術者（開発） | Same scopeprovisional |
| 083 | 機械技術者（開発を除く） | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources