Mechanical Engineers build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and operations analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Materials Scientists (77%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Scientists | 77% | $117,790 | +13% | None |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 71% | $74,510 | −28% | None |
| 3 | Water Resource Specialists | 70% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 70% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 69% | $171,270Pay for the broader BLS group “Architectural and Engineering Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 69% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Computer Network Architects | 69% | $134,050 | +29% | None |
| 8 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 68% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 68% | $101,920 | −2% | None |
| 10 | Hydrologists | 68% | $96,600 | −7% | None |
Compared with Mechanical Engineers, median $104,110. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as mechanical engineers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
77% skill match · $117,790 · +13% pay
Persuasion · Complex Problem Solving
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
71% skill match · $74,510 · −28% pay
Repairing · Equipment Selection · Equipment Maintenance
70% skill match · $167,220 (broader BLS group)
Time Management · Negotiation · Persuasion
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Materials Scientists (77% skill match, median $117,790), Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (71% skill match, median $74,510) and Water Resource Specialists (70% skill match, median $167,220), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 8 pay more than mechanical engineers at the median. The biggest increases: Medical Dosimetrists (+42%, $147,470), Computer and Information Research Scientists (+35%, $140,300) and Database Architects (+34%, $139,500).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. One usually needs a graduate degree: Computer and Information Research Scientists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.