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Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Other titles employers use
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)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Design
- Mathematics
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.7 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.3 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.3 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 42%
- A four-year degree 36%
- A two-year degree 14%
- High school or less 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Office suite software
- Development environment software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 8,170
- Job openings each year
- 740
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 1.0%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 8,170 | 740 | 1.0% |
| Texas | 3,680 | 340 | 7.3% |
| California | 3,600 | 330 | 5.9% |
| Ohio | 2,270 | 210 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 1,780 | 160 | 1.1% |
| Illinois | 1,530 | 140 | — |
| Wisconsin | 1,510 | 140 | 6.3% |
| Indiana | 1,460 | 130 | 2.8% |
| New York | 1,430 | 0 | — |
| South Carolina | 1,170 | 110 | 8.3% |
| Utah | 1,140 | 110 | 22.6% |
| Washington | 1,140 | 130 | 17.5% |
| Florida | 1,080 | 100 | 16.1% |
| Maryland | 900 | 80 | 7.1% |
| New Jersey | 800 | 70 | 2.6% |
| Minnesota | 790 | 70 | 3.9% |
| Alabama | 760 | 70 | 5.6% |
| North Carolina | 650 | 60 | 4.8% |
| Iowa | 620 | 60 | 1.6% |
| Georgia | 600 | 60 | 11.1% |
| Virginia | 600 | 60 | 3.4% |
| New Hampshire | 520 | 50 | 4.0% |
| Arizona | 510 | 50 | 10.9% |
| Colorado | 500 | 50 | 4.2% |
| Oregon | 430 | 40 | 13.2% |
| Louisiana | 420 | 40 | 7.7% |
| Nevada | 420 | 40 | 16.7% |
| Kentucky | 400 | 40 | 2.6% |
| Missouri | 350 | 30 | −2.8% |
| Tennessee | 300 | 30 | 11.1% |
| New Mexico | 280 | 30 | 7.7% |
| Connecticut | 270 | 30 | 12.5% |
| Kansas | 230 | 20 | 4.5% |
| Massachusetts | 220 | 20 | — |
| Oklahoma | 220 | 20 | −4.3% |
| South Dakota | 220 | 20 | 4.8% |
| Mississippi | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 170 | 20 | 21.4% |
| Nebraska | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| North Dakota | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Alaska | 110 | 10 | 22.2% |
| Maine | 110 | 10 | −8.3% |
| West Virginia | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| District of Columbia | 80 | 10 | — |
| Arkansas | 60 | 10 | — |
| Guam | 60 | 10 | — |
| Idaho | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Delaware | 50 | 10 | — |
| Vermont | 50 | 0 | — |
| Rhode Island | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 265
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
CUNY New York City College of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 96
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Rochester Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 92
- Admit rate
- 71%
- Annual cost after aid
- $29,000
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Degrees each year
- 89
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Ferris State University
- Degrees each year
- 84
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Indiana State University
- Degrees each year
- 77
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
University of North Texas
- Degrees each year
- 73
- Admit rate
- 72%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Toledo
- Degrees each year
- 66
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Compare every college offering mechanical engineering related technologies/technicians