The corpus luteum produces progesterone. Progesterone makes the lining of the uterus thick for implantation and is necessary to sustain a healthy pregnancy. The corpus luteum produces progesterone until the placenta begins to take over progesterone production around ten weeks gestation.
Starting Salary. Individual salaries vary according to factors such as location and type of industry. Entry-level mechanical engineers holding bachelor's degrees earned average annual starting salaries of $58,600, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Spring 2012 Salary Survey.
Although there are an estimated 252,540 jobs in mechanical engineering, employment is expected to grow slower than average at a rate of 9 percent between 2010 and 2020. As of May 2012, the average annual mechanical engineer salary is $84,770, which translates to a mean hourly wage of $40.75. Percentile wage estimates suggest that the lowest ten percent earns $52,030, while the top ten percent receives an average salary of $121,530.