How to Become a Mechanical Engineering Technician
Prototype, test, and tune machinery alongside mechanical engineers, from the shop floor to the test lab. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $74,510 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$74,510/yr
Middle half
$59,510 to $88,110
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
3,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Mechanical Testing
- CAD Modeling
- Machining Basics
- Measurement
- Troubleshooting
Helpful certifications
- SolidWorks certification
- NIMS credentials
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
17/100
Work-life balance
56/100
Stress level
61/100
Related careers
- Electrical Engineering Technician$78,190 median
- Civil Engineering Technician$64,950 median
- Wind Turbine Technician$64,120 median
- Plumber$63,800 median
- Electrician$63,190 median
- HVAC Technician$61,010 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Engineering Technician make?
The median pay for a Mechanical Engineering Technician is $74,510 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $59,510 and $88,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Mechanical Engineering Technician?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Mechanical Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, and Engineering.
Is Mechanical Engineering Technician a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Mechanical Engineering Technician use most?
Common skills for this role are Mechanical Testing, CAD Modeling, Machining Basics, Measurement, and Troubleshooting.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).