# What can you do with a Mechanical Engineering degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/mechanical-engineering/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Mechanical Engineering degree commonly leads to roles such as graduate mechanical engineer, cAD technician and maintenance engineer (entry). Five years after graduating, Mechanical Engineering graduates had median earnings of £43,600 (middle half: £34,800–£53,100), and 89.5% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Engineering graduates is professional, scientific and technical services (26.4% of those in work).

Mechanical engineering covers mechanics, materials, and design. Accredited programmes can support later professional registration. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Mechanical Engineering degree?

- **Graduate mechanical engineer**: Supports a design or plant team with models, drawings, and verification against a specification. Skills often asked for: CAD, design reviews, calculations.
- **CAD technician**. Skills often asked for: drawings, BOMs, revision control.
- **Maintenance engineer (entry)**. Skills often asked for: fault finding, permits, spares.
- **Manufacturing engineer (entry)**. Skills often asked for: process sheets, yield notes, line trials.

## Where do Mechanical Engineering graduates work?

Engineering graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 26.4% | £44,300 |
| Manufacturing | 24.3% | £45,800 |
| Information and communication | 9.6% | £48,300 |
| Construction | 5.8% | £48,700 |
| Wholesale and retail | 5.7% | £37,000 |
| Administrative and support services | 4.2% | £39,500 |
| Public administration and defence | 4.1% | £44,300 |
| Finance and insurance | 3.8% | £65,900 |

## How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Mechanical engineering (CAH10-01-02). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £31,100 | £26,400–£36,600 | 90.5% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £37,000 | £30,700–£45,400 | 90.3% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £43,600 | £34,800–£53,100 | 89.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £53,400 | £41,400–£68,400 | 88.1% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Engineering graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £73,600 | 95 |
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £64,400 | 230 |
| [Imperial College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/imperial-college-london/) | £56,400 | 225 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £55,300 | 175 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £54,000 | 130 |
| [Open University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/open-university/) | £52,300 | 335 |
| [Wrexham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/wrexham-university/) | £51,200 | 55 |
| [University of Bath](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bath/) | £50,500 | 350 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £50,100 | 240 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £49,800 | 280 |

## Is Mechanical Engineering the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You like turning a brief into a drawing, a model, and a test.
- You are willing to learn CAD, thermodynamics, and workshop practice.
- You enjoy spotting failure modes before they happen.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a course with almost no mathematics.
- You dislike lab reports and tolerances.
- You expected to skip manufacturing constraints.

## Interview questions for Mechanical Engineering graduate roles

Graduate mechanical and manufacturing interviews usually mix a simple technical explanation with how you work on site or in a workshop. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- Explain how a common mechanism from your course actually transmits force. (What it tests: Whether you understand the physics, not only the CAD screenshot.)
- A drawing and the part on the bench do not match. What do you do? (What it tests: Checking revision, raising a query, and not machining the wrong thing.)
- How would you make a simple assembly safer to maintain? (What it tests: DFM and basic risk thinking: access, isolation, and lifting.)
- You are asked to estimate a cycle time with incomplete data. How do you answer? (What it tests: Stating assumptions and a range, rather than a fake precise number.)
- A machine trips out on your shift. Walk us through your first checks. (What it tests: Safe isolation and a method, not guessing at live equipment.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Mechanical Engineering degree?

Common starting roles include graduate mechanical engineer, cAD technician, maintenance engineer (entry) and manufacturing engineer (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Engineering graduates in work were professional, scientific and technical services (26.4%), manufacturing (24.3%) and information and communication (9.6%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Mechanical Engineering graduates of £31,100 one year after graduating, £37,000 three years after graduating, £43,600 five years after graduating and £53,400 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Mechanical Engineering degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 89.5% of Mechanical Engineering graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £43,600. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Mechanical Engineering 19 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Engineering graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Engineering were at University of Oxford (£73,600), University of Cambridge (£64,400) and Imperial College London (£56,400). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Mechanical Engineering in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Mechanical%20Engineering