Mechanical Design
“I like knowing we’re making a product that can be used on a daily basis.”
— Michelle Smith, Wilson Tool
See how Michelle makes it work
What do Mechanical Designers do?
- Design or alter products, taking into account factors such as price, manufacturability and aesthetics.
- Create designs and drawings for products and machines using the latest computer hardware, 3D modeling and computer-aided design (CAD) manufacturing software.
- Specify manufacturing instructions for the creation and assembly of parts.
- Get into rapid prototyping, 3D printing, reverse engineering and analysis of competitors’ products.
Career Facts
High Demand
Companies are seeking trained mechanical designers.
A good living
Mechanical designers in Minnesota make a median wage of $56,638 a year.
Strong Placement
77% of mechanical design students are hired within 6 months of graduation.
A growing Field
197 students graduate each year from mechanical design programs in Minnesota.
Intense Screentime
You’ll spend lots of time working on a computer.
Mechanical Design Careers
- CAD drafter
- CAD designer
- Engineering technician
- Mechanical technician
You may complete your education in:
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
College Programs
St. Cloud Technical and Community College, St. Cloud
Lake Superior College, Duluth
“I like knowing that we’re making a product that can be used on a daily basis. It’s going to be something that you see the final outcomes in the world, and you can say ‘I made that.’”
— Michelle Smith, Wilson Tool
Research and information taken from Career OneStop, Career Manufacturing, CAREERWise Education (formerly iSeek), Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic, Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Workforce Assessment Initiative, National Association of Manufacturers, O*NET, The Manufacturing Institute, U.S. Department of Labor and Wanted Analytics. Information is subject to change without notice.