Working as a Mechanical Engineer
Industry Overview
Approximately 5,200 people are employed as mechanical engineers in British Columbia. The majority of these jobs are in the Mainland/Southwest region.
Industry analysts anticipate there will be 1,850 new jobs over the next 10 years.
Job Outlook in BC
Mechanical Engineers
Image
Chart from WorkBC
WorkBC provides job openings in BC regions from 2019-2029:
| Region | Employment in 2019 | Average Annual Employment Growth | Expected number of Job Openings 2019-2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Island | 700 | 0.4% | 150 |
| Lower Mainland /Southwest | 4,660 | 1.3% | 1,500 |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 330 | 1.4% | 120 |
| Kootenay | 240 | 0.4% | 50 |
| Cariboo | 160 | 0.0% | 20 |
| North Coast & Nechako | 60 | 0.1% | 10 |
You can learn more about the working as a mechanical engineer from:
Types of Employers
Mechanical engineers work for:
- consulting engineering companies
- manufacturing companies
- architectural companies
- government agencies
You may also consider jobs as technical equipment representatives or managers in an industrial company.
Salary & Working Hours
In BC, the median annual salary for mechanical engineers is $75,207. Your salary depends on education, experience, industry and employer. You generally earn more if you have master’s degree or PhD.
If you work full-time you often receive benefits such as dental coverage, paid sick & vacation days and pension plans. Exact benefits vary by employer.
Sources: WorkBC & Career Cruising
Job Bank Canada provides hourly wages for Mechanical Engineers
Source: Job Bank, Wage Report
Working Hours
You usually work long hours, 8 to 9 hours a day or 45 to 50 hours a week. Longer hours and weekends may be required when deadlines are approaching, or if an important piece of machinery has broken down.
You may work especially long shifts if you are just starting out in the industry.
From Career Cruising database (Profile for Mechanical Engineer)