Engineering and Architecture · Career brief

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$74,510

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

1.3%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

3,100

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Before choosing, compare:Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Engineering and Architecture Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$74,510

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

1.3%employment growth3,100openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

36,900

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (17-3027).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings.
Review project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign.
Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information4.4
Documenting/Recording Information4.2
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.2
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.2

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.3
Investigative5.4
Conventional4.8
Artistic2.2
Social1.2
Enterprising1.1

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Engineering and Technology Mechanical Design Mathematics

Software and tools named in job postings

Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Complete a small design-build-test project with real constraints: measure, model, build or simulate, test, and revise after the first failure.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options