Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians vs Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians: $60K vs $75K Median Pay

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians vs Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians: what changes?

Consider Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians if you want to apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment…. Consider Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians if you would rather apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists. Both list associate's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

National median pay (2025): $59,920
Route into the job: Associate's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,100

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (12,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians brief

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

National median pay (2025): $74,510
Route into the job: Associate's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,100

Know before you choose

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

See the full Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians brief

How the national numbers differ

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians is at 3,100 annual openings, compared with 1,100 annual openings for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians.

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians has the edge on median pay

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians is at $74,510, compared with $59,920 for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians.

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians is at 3.1% projected growth, compared with 1.3% projected growth for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians.

Typical preparation differs.

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Associate's degree Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Associate's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

37.8/ 100

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

47.9/ 100

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians vs Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Dimension	Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Median pay (2025)	$59,920	$74,510
Pay percentile	47.8 percentile	64.5 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	3.1%	1.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,100	3,100
2025 employment	12,500	36,900
How you qualify	Associate's degree	Associate's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians brief Read Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians brief

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians vs Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

How the national numbers differ

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians has the edge on median pay

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians vs Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

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