Mechanical engineering vs electrical engineering?

Hi Clayton,

Many people ask, “Which is better: mechanical or electrical engineering?” Well, that’s the wrong question to ask. It should be:”What is better and more suited to my interests and attitudes?” In truth, neither degree program is better than the other. In fact, there are areas in which they significantly overlap (like MEMs and control systems). What makes the difference is what you want for your career. So, which of the two is more suited for you?
Mechanical Engineering Degree vs Electrical Engineering: What they are?
Electrical engineering deals with the design of different types of electrical systems. It’s considered the largest branch of the engineering fields. Electrical engineers examine issues related to electronics, control systems, signal processing, and telecommunications. Mechanical engineers get knowledge in physics and material science for the design, manufacture, and testing of all kinds of mechanical products and machinery. This knowledge spans from mechanics and thermodynamics, to structural analysis structural analysis are all necessary in this field.

Career Paths:
First, both engineers work together in nearly all fields. They are complementary, one needing the other.
For example, look at the common suspension system. Its structural analysis is purely the domain of mechanical engineering. On the other hand, application of ferromagnetic fluids as part of an active suspension system combines structural, control and electronic design. Both types of engineers are needed to make a good design.
However, there are those that are more into the respective fields. Electrical engineers, for one, play an important role in any industry that requires electricity, wires, circuits, relays, and power systems. They design, develop, and manage the processes of larger-scale electrical systems. These are the likes of motors, navigation systems, radar, and power generation equipment. Power generation and supply are the main components of everyday work for electrical engineers. They are involved from the outset until the completion and implementation of electrical products. They also design new ways to use electrical power, and establish unique and creative ways of improving current products and systems.

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop and test mechanical and thermal devices including tools, engines and machines. They are found in various scientific jobs such as nanotechnology, medical machinery, and robotics. Some of the more-common devices they build serve the medical, energy and automated manufacturing sectors. You can also score yourself a lucrative mechanical engineering career in the consulting industry and the military and government.

Job Opportunities:
One thing’s certain: There’s no shortage of the engineering jobs. For instance, the U.S. has close to 1.6 million engineering jobs, which pay $42 per hour in median wages. Mechanical engineers accounted for 264,000 of these in 2014, electrical engineers holding onto 258,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment opportunities for electrical engineers will grow by about 4 percent from 2012 to 2022. They’ve estimated that employment opportunities for mechanical engineers to grow 5 percent between the same time period. Electrical and electronic engineers have a pay median of $87,180 (according to the BLS). On the other hand, that of mechanical engineers stands at $78,160.

So which is the best for you? It’s simple-the choice that is in line with your career goals.

Regards,
Nadeem Khan

Hi Clayton,

I agree with Nadeem, there is a lot of overlap between ME's and EE's not only in a professional environment, but also in the curriculum for obtaining your Becholors. From my core classes in college I took EE courses such as Circuits, electromagnetic physics, and a few more. You are also required to take "electives", counting towards your degree, and you could take additional EE courses.

As for professional experience, I have my bachelor's in ME and all of my work assignments to this date revolve around electro-mechanical engineering. At my first employer, I performed FEA (thermal/ static analyses) on electronic packages such as amplifiers. In order for me to learn how to accurately perform my analyses, I needed to understand the physics behind these packages that were design by EE's. The key takeaway here is that regardless of which path you choose, you will get exposed to the other function.

Hope this helps!

AJ

Electrical engineering deals with the design of different types of electrical systems. It’s considered the largest branch of the engineering fields. Electrical engineers examine issues related to electronics, control systems, signal processing, and telecommunications. Mechanical engineers get knowledge in physics and material science for the design, manufacture, and testing of all kinds of mechanical products and machinery. This knowledge spans from mechanics and thermodynamics, to structural analysis structural analysis are all necessary in this field.