One of the most employable undergrad degrees. 9% growth, steady pay, work available in every state and most countries. The skills (systems thinking, CAD, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, design) transfer across industries. Recession-resistant compared to pure tech — manufacturing and energy keep going when software hiring slows.

The degree is legitimately hard. Most ME programs have 30–40% attrition by junior year. Calculus through differential equations, linear algebra, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, materials, controls, design — a dense sequence. GPA below 3.0 is common even for graduates. Make peace with office hours.

Specialize early. Aerospace ($135k) and energy pay top of market. Silicon Valley hardware companies (Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, Google hardware) pay $100–130k starting, $180k+ mid-career. Eng management ($168k) takes 10–15 years. Getting a PE license (Professional Engineer) is optional for most ME jobs but required for civil- adjacent work and some consulting.

AI helps design — generative design, topology optimization, simulation acceleration — but doesn't replace the engineer. The work is physical systems with real constraints: manufacturability, cost, failure modes, regulation. These require human judgment. MEs who use AI tools will outpace those who don't, but the occupation itself is projected +9%.