Mechanical Engineers
The short answer
This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 666 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about half of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate about 85% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
AI could do much of this on its own
Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Calibrate vehicle systems, including control algorithms or other software systems.
AI could do much of this on its own
Tasks AI can't do much of
Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Engineers, All Other
Very similar work+15% pay1,540 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 15% more—$120,894 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Written Comprehension
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Aerospace Engineers
Very similar work+27% pay54 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 27% more—$133,976 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Written Comprehension
New skills to build
- Operations Analysis
- Science
Nuclear Engineers
Very similar work+38% pay238 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 38% more—$145,148 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Written Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
New skills to build
- Public Safety and Security
- Biology
- Building and Construction
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
Industrial Engineers
Very similar workabout the same pay837 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about the same—$105,509 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Reading Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Psychology
- Education and Training
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Very similar work+16% pay140 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 16% more—$122,513 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Oral Comprehension
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Electrical Engineers
Very similar work+16% pay4,250 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 16% more—$122,345 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Written Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Oral Expression
New skills to build
- Computers and Electronics
Chemical Engineers
Similar work+26% pay28 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 26% more—$132,675 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Written Comprehension
New skills to build
- Chemistry
- Science
- Category Flexibility
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Similar work+70% pay1,869 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 70% more—$178,657 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Written Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
New skills to build
- Customer and Personal Service
Materials Scientists
Similar work+29% pay40 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 29% more—$135,427 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Chemistry
Power Plant Operators
Similar work+4% pay6,702 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 4% more—$109,433 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Engineering and Technology
New skills to build
- Equipment Maintenance
- Multilimb Coordination
- Operation and Control
- Reaction Time
- Extent Flexibility
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Similar workslightly less pay765 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$96,212 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Near Vision
- Chemistry
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Multilimb Coordination
- Equipment Maintenance
- Static Strength
- Reaction Time
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Somewhat similar workslightly less pay12,479 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$104,013 vs your $105,303 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Engineering and Technology
- Oral Comprehension
- Computers and Electronics
- Near Vision
New skills to build
- Extent Flexibility
- Multilimb Coordination
- Manual Dexterity
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing