Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
What Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 1.5%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 4.2/5
- Mechanicalimportance 4.1/5
- Designimportance 4.0/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.7/5
- English Languageimportance 3.5/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.4/5
- Production and Processingimportance 3.3/5
- Physicsimportance 3.2/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
- Contact With Others4.6/5
- E-Mail4.5/5
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.3/5
- Telephone Conversations4.3/5
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.3/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Chemical Technicians93% skill match
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers91% skill match
- Nuclear Technicians90% skill match
- Prepress Technicians and Workers89% skill match
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers89% skill match
- Radiation Therapists89% skill match
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic87% skill match
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders86% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.6/5
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.4/5
- Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.3/5
- Systems Analysisimportance 3.3/5
- Systems Evaluationimportance 3.1/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.1/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.0/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- ANSYS Mechanical
- ANSYS simulation software
- Ansys Fluent
- Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
- Autodesk Inventor
- CNC Mastercam
- Computerized numerical control CNC programming software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Innovation
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrity
- Achievement Orientation
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- InvestigativeHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- ArtisticLow
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Columbus, IN10.84× national avg
- 2Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI7.09× national avg
- 3Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI5.50× national avg
- 4Ann Arbor, MI5.47× national avg
- 5Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL4.86× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansLateral Move
- Nuclear TechniciansCareer Change
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersCareer Change
- Chemical TechniciansCareer Change
See the full career path from Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians →
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
- Purdue University-Main Campus (West Lafayette, IN)grads earn ~$86,891
- Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (West Mifflin, PA)
- Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, VA)grads earn ~$66,662
- Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (West Mifflin, PA)
- American Public University System (Charles Town, WV)grads earn ~$89,871