Engineering Technician Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Many private and public schools offer technical training. Many schools offer engineering technology speciality programs.
Training and Education
An associate degree is often necessary for working in the field. About 18% of engineering technicians have earned a degree. Some college, below a 4-year degree, is sufficient for 54% of workers. Employees with only a high school education represent about 27% of all.
Job Overview
Engineering techs solve technical problems by utilizing the theories and principles of engineering, science and mathematics. Engineering technicians work in research and development, manufacturing, construction, maintenance and inspection. Most engineering technicians work in a specific field.
Job Requirements
Most employers prefer to hire individuals that have at least an associate degree in engineering technology. The type of technical courses required for engineering technicians depends on the specialty.
Employers usually don't require engineering techs to be certified, however, individuals with certification may have a competitive advantage.
Nature of Work
- Make modifications to electrical parts, prototypes, assemblies and systems in order to fix functional deviations
- Set up and use test equipment
- Analyze and interpret test information
- Assist engineers with product design
Area Job Conditions
Engineering technicians appear most common in Corvallis (Oregon), Pascagoula (Mississippi), and Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and least common in Greensboro (North Carolina), Hartford (Connecticut), and New York (New York).
Portsmouth (New Hampshire), Pascagoula (Mississippi), and Oakland (California) offer the highest pay. Fort Worth (Texas), Champaign (Illinois), and Fayetteville (Arkansas) offer the lowest salaries.
Part-Time and Self Employment
Government statistics report that 6% of engineering technicians are employed part-time. Workers who work for themselves total about 1%.
Engineering Technicians by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $42,000 | 220 | +3% |
| Mobile | $48,000 | 110 | +49% |
| Montgomery | $33,000 | 40 | -42% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $63,000 | 330 | +370% |
| Fairbanks | $49,000 | 50 | +324% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $60,000 | 510 | -34% |
| Tucson | $51,000 | 50 | -66% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $49,000 | 50 | -67% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $68,000 | 710 | +538% |
| Fresno | $60,000 | 130 | -6% |
| Los Angeles | $64,000 | 1,620 | -9% |
| Modesto | $70,000 | 30 | -54% |
| Oakland | $75,000 | 1,020 | +133% |
| Oxnard | $71,000 | 340 | +166% |
| Riverside | $62,000 | 690 | +31% |
| Sacramento | $61,000 | 370 | -3% |
| Salinas | $65,000 | 50 | -25% |
| San Diego | $64,000 | 1,390 | +142% |
| San Francisco | $67,000 | 380 | -13% |
| San Jose | $63,000 | 1,390 | +254% |
| Santa Ana | $56,000 | 550 | -14% |
| Santa Rosa | $57,000 | 180 | +146% |
| Vallejo | $64,000 | 60 | +22% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $66,000 | 90 | +41% |
| Colorado Springs | $64,000 | 110 | +2% |
| Denver | $56,000 | 570 | +4% |
| Grand Junction | $47,000 | 50 | +127% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $58,000 | 150 | -40% |
| New Haven | $51,000 | 50 | -57% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $68,000 | 1,570 | +47% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Walton Beach | $51,000 | 150 | +394% |
| Gainesville | $43,000 | 90 | +80% |
| Jacksonville | $63,000 | 310 | +18% |
| Miami | $55,000 | 170 | -60% |
| Orlando | $51,000 | 130 | -71% |
| Palm Bay | $61,000 | 280 | +235% |
| Panama City | $59,000 | 180 | +564% |
| Pensacola | $59,000 | 60 | -3% |
| Tallahassee | $46,000 | 50 | -26% |
| Tampa | $53,000 | 310 | -38% |
| West Palm Beach | $45,000 | 80 | -65% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $65,000 | 50 | +107% |
| Atlanta | $58,000 | 490 | -52% |
| Augusta | $66,000 | 100 | +15% |
| Savannah | $58,000 | 70 | +12% |
| Warner Robins | $63,000 | 130 | +530% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | 550 | +188% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $45,000 | 290 | +159% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $37,000 | 50 | +20% |
| Chicago | $57,000 | 1,510 | -9% |
| Peoria | $55,000 | 90 | +26% |
| Springfield | $56,000 | 70 | +59% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | 150 | +445% | |
| Evansville | $57,000 | 40 | -44% |
| Gary | $58,000 | 60 | -48% |
| Indianapolis | $53,000 | 270 | -31% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $61,000 | 130 | +65% |
| Waterloo | $50,000 | 60 | +74% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $38,000 | 100 | -3% |
| Louisville | $49,000 | 240 | -9% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $51,000 | 440 | +173% |
| New Orleans | $66,000 | 630 | +173% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $52,000 | 50 | -41% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $66,000 | 1,380 | +140% |
| Bethesda | $65,000 | 650 | +158% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $64,000 | 400 | -48% |
| Framingham | $45,000 | 150 | +119% |
| Haverhill | $49,000 | 40 | +22% |
| Lowell | $58,000 | 70 | +41% |
| Worcester | $50,000 | 90 | -16% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $52,000 | 160 | +128% |
| Detroit | $59,000 | 490 | +67% |
| Flint | $62,000 | 70 | +30% |
| Grand Rapids | $51,000 | 220 | +35% |
| Holland | $40,000 | 200 | +411% |
| Kalamazoo | $52,000 | 120 | +113% |
| Lansing | $52,000 | 60 | -29% |
| Monroe | $61,000 | 120 | +788% |
| Niles | $49,000 | 50 | +122% |
| Saginaw | $41,000 | 90 | +174% |
| Warren | $58,000 | 1,770 | +274% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $55,000 | 820 | +5% |
| Rochester | $49,000 | 40 | -4% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $55,000 | 80 | +82% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $61,000 | 150 | -66% |
| St Louis | $63,000 | 250 | -57% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $64,000 | 90 | +166% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $51,000 | 30 | -55% |
| Omaha | $58,000 | 100 | -51% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $58,000 | 140 | -62% |
| Reno | $49,000 | 70 | -13% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $48,000 | 60 | +42% |
| Nashua | $49,000 | 190 | +233% |
| Portsmouth | $81,000 | 550 | +2360% |
| Rochester | $44,000 | 30 | +45% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $69,000 | 80 | +32% |
| Camden | $61,000 | 120 | -48% |
| Edison | $68,000 | 250 | -45% |
| Newark | $61,000 | 440 | +0% |
| Trenton | $48,000 | 70 | -28% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $53,000 | 480 | +187% |
| Santa Fe | $35,000 | 50 | +106% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $56,000 | 330 | +68% |
| Buffalo | $50,000 | 170 | -30% |
| Nassau | $53,000 | 150 | -73% |
| New York | $52,000 | 610 | -73% |
| Rochester | $55,000 | 330 | +50% |
| Syracuse | $49,000 | 100 | -26% |
| Utica | $47,000 | 70 | +36% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $61,000 | 360 | -4% |
| Raleigh | $39,000 | 90 | -60% |
| Wilmington | $64,000 | 60 | +6% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $49,000 | 190 | +37% |
| Canton | $48,000 | 200 | +185% |
| Cleveland | $69,000 | 680 | +51% |
| Columbus | $51,000 | 670 | +66% |
| Dayton | $42,000 | 520 | +214% |
| Toledo | $44,000 | 120 | -5% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $65,000 | 340 | +35% |
| Tulsa | $57,000 | 180 | -4% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $54,000 | 810 | +81% |
| Salem | $50,000 | 60 | -4% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $47,000 | 120 | -20% |
| Harrisburg | $63,000 | 40 | -71% |
| Philadelphia | $68,000 | 420 | -50% |
| Pittsburgh | $50,000 | 200 | -60% |
| Scranton | $64,000 | 40 | -64% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $49,000 | 140 | +13% |
| Columbia | $54,000 | 70 | -54% |
| Greenville | $55,000 | 80 | -38% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $54,000 | 80 | -18% |
| Clarksville | $61,000 | 60 | +92% |
| Knoxville | $64,000 | 70 | -51% |
| Memphis | $49,000 | 80 | -70% |
| Nashville | $43,000 | 140 | -57% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $62,000 | 280 | -19% |
| Beaumont | $39,000 | 140 | +107% |
| College Station | $39,000 | 50 | +34% |
| Corpus Christi | $49,000 | 190 | +152% |
| Dallas | $57,000 | 660 | -29% |
| Fort Worth | $53,000 | 320 | -16% |
| Houston | $68,000 | 2,590 | +123% |
| Killeen | $60,000 | 110 | +106% |
| Laredo | $46,000 | 40 | +27% |
| Longview | $59,000 | 30 | -23% |
| Mcallen | $55,000 | 70 | -29% |
| Midland | $64,000 | 100 | +305% |
| San Antonio | $53,000 | 730 | +91% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $64,000 | 150 | +78% |
| Provo | $49,000 | 40 | -44% |
| Salt Lake City | $60,000 | 200 | -25% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $57,000 | 90 | -67% |
| Roanoke | $44,000 | 40 | -39% |
| Virginia Beach | $73,000 | 1,750 | +427% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $79,000 | 910 | +2630% |
| Kennewick | $53,000 | 160 | +292% |
| Mount Vernon | $77,000 | 100 | +497% |
| Seattle | $67,000 | 1,510 | +145% |
| Spokane | $51,000 | 50 | -43% |
| Tacoma | $56,000 | 60 | -47% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $54,000 | 80 | +71% |
| Wheeling | $45,000 | 40 | +57% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $48,000 | 90 | -38% |
| Milwaukee | $52,000 | 220 | -40% |
| Oshkosh | $51,000 | 40 | +13% |