Careers / Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$74,510
United States, 2025
Employment
36,190
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
- O*NET code
- 17-3027.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical tasks
- Analyze or estimate production costs, such as labor, equipment, and plant space.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$48,400
25th percentile
$59,510
75th percentile
$88,110
90th percentile
$106,050
Most important skills
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Writing3.5
- Operations Monitoring3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Mathematics3.3
- Time Management3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 20 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
20
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.5 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Science | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick, WA | $126,230 | 90 | 2025 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $119,630 | 90 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $110,030 | 90 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | $109,470 | 80 | 2025 |
| Des Moines, IA | $105,160 | 110 | 2025 |
| LA | $102,800 | 270 | 2025 |
| Peoria, IL | $102,610 | 100 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $100,620 | 790 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | $100,150 | 600 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $98,440 | 180 | 2025 |
| NM | $97,560 | 320 | 2025 |
| Beaumont, TX | $97,300 | 60 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $96,680 | 530 | 2025 |
| Augusta, GA | $96,610 | 240 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $94,960 | 30 | 2025 |
| MO | $92,150 | 800 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | $91,450 | 1,030 | 2025 |
| CA | $87,390 | 3,660 | 2025 |
| Spokane, WA | $85,830 | 40 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $84,930 | 210 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.