Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| Mean (average) | $76,380 | $36.72 |
| 90th percentile | $106,050 | $50.99 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 46 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,350 | $46,370 | $78,690 | 400 | 0.82 |
| Alaska | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.93 | ||
| Arizona | $72,090 | $49,570 | $99,020 | 730 | 0.97 |
| California | $87,390 | $57,950 | $124,740 | 3,660 | 0.86 |
| Colorado | $77,090 | $54,650 | $109,650 | 330 | 0.5 |
| Connecticut | $82,660 | $49,350 | $128,460 | 350 | 0.88 |
| Delaware | $77,820 | $53,980 | $99,190 | 50 | 0.43 |
| Florida | $59,720 | $37,830 | $82,410 | 540 | 0.24 |
| Georgia | $73,870 | $48,170 | $128,540 | 560 | 0.5 |
| Idaho | $68,310 | $55,120 | $84,220 | 30 | 0.16 |
| Illinois | $77,020 | $51,360 | $121,460 | 1,170 | 0.82 |
| Indiana | $77,220 | $49,610 | $99,380 | 1,500 | 2.01 |
| Iowa | $71,670 | $52,430 | $125,300 | 500 | 1.37 |
| Kansas | $55,390 | $48,560 | $100,360 | 410 | 1.24 |
| Kentucky | $77,990 | $48,690 | $97,880 | 520 | 1.12 |
| Louisiana | $102,800 | $47,060 | $177,310 | 270 | 0.59 |
| Maine | $76,790 | $49,920 | $102,730 | 220 | 1.45 |
| Maryland | $79,180 | $51,750 | $124,060 | 640 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | $62,390 | $53,200 | $95,460 | 1,310 | 1.55 |
| Michigan | $68,170 | $46,110 | $98,980 | 4,930 | 4.81 |
| Minnesota | $63,990 | $45,000 | $85,640 | 400 | 0.58 |
| Mississippi | $70,570 | $49,240 | $91,170 | 220 | 0.81 |
| Missouri | $92,150 | $62,050 | $127,480 | 800 | 1.17 |
| Nebraska | $80,050 | $52,590 | $99,640 | 250 | 1.06 |
| Nevada | $72,950 | $47,030 | $118,650 | 420 | 1.17 |
| New Hampshire | $66,740 | $54,570 | $85,490 | 570 | 3.58 |
| New Jersey | $65,180 | $46,350 | $99,860 | 260 | 0.26 |
| New Mexico | $97,560 | $56,400 | $122,690 | 320 | 1.57 |
| New York | $78,210 | $46,290 | $103,660 | 1,140 | 0.51 |
| North Carolina | $62,360 | $48,550 | $91,160 | 1,190 | 1.03 |
| North Dakota | $76,440 | $56,160 | $122,390 | 90 | 0.91 |
| Ohio | $78,500 | $48,820 | $97,740 | 1,800 | 1.39 |
| Oklahoma | $61,480 | $49,390 | $97,650 | 490 | 1.24 |
| Oregon | $80,840 | $52,720 | $104,850 | 260 | 0.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,820 | $49,620 | $100,630 | 1,620 | 1.15 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,860 | $35,350 | $71,350 | 70 | 0.34 |
| Rhode Island | $81,600 | $56,470 | $140,960 | 30 | 0.27 |
| South Carolina | $69,580 | $49,350 | $96,610 | 1,290 | 2.4 |
| South Dakota | $53,670 | $45,150 | $77,980 | 110 | 1.04 |
| Tennessee | $62,270 | $46,320 | $94,160 | 580 | 0.76 |
| Texas | $76,610 | $48,530 | $123,620 | 2,140 | 0.65 |
| Utah | $61,870 | $48,370 | $88,110 | 900 | 2.24 |
| Virginia | $75,650 | $46,090 | $98,320 | 670 | 0.71 |
| Washington | $79,410 | $59,150 | $125,450 | 890 | 1.07 |
| West Virginia | $47,660 | $32,290 | $79,160 | 200 | 1.2 |
| Wisconsin | $67,850 | $47,880 | $90,150 | 900 | 1.31 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0803
- Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0805
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 15.0899
- Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician CIP 15.1103
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
- Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings.
- Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.
- Review project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign.
- Provide technical support to other employees regarding mechanical design, fabrication, testing, or documentation.
- Test machines, components, materials, or products to determine characteristics such as performance, strength, or response to stress.
- Draft detail drawing or sketch for drafting room completion or to request parts fabrication by machine, sheet or wood shops.
- Analyze test results in relation to design or rated specifications and test objectives, and modify or adjust equipment to meet specifications.
Technology skills
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Engineering Laboratory Technician (Engineering Lab Technician), Engineering Technical Analyst, Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Engineering Technologist, Manufacturing Engineering Technician (Manufacturing Engineering Tech), Mechanical Designer, Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech), Process Engineering Technician (Process Engineering Tech), Process Technician, Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians was $74,510 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,400 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $106,050. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is mechanical engineering technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians to change +1.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay mechanical engineering technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Louisiana ($102,800), New Mexico ($97,560), Missouri ($92,150). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.