Mechanical Engineering Tech Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
To become a mechanical engineering tech, one can pursue the two year associate degree programs which are offered by the technical institutes and community colleges. These degree programs are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or ABET. They include college algebra, one or two basic science courses, and trigonometry. The mechanical engineering techs may pursue courses in fluid mechanics, mechanical design, and thermodynamics. After completing the 2-two year associate degree programs, one may continue education at the four year colleges.
Training and Education
Employees are generally expected to have an associate degree. About 18% of mechanical engineering techs hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 54% of workers have some college education, though not a degree. About 27% of employees were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Mechanical engineering technicians assist engineers in the designing, testing, developing, and manufacturing of consumer products, industrial machinery, and other equipment. They also help in setting up instrumentation for any kind of auto crash tests. They make rough layouts and sketches, calculate the estimation, analyze the recorded data, and prepare reports on their findings. Apart from estimating the equipment life, they also calculate the labor costs and plant space. Machines and equipment are also inspected by them so as to eliminate any kind of production problems.
Job Requirements
Though most of the employers prefer to hire graduates from two year associate degree programs, one can also pursue formal apprenticeship programs which combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. It takes between 2 to 4 years to complete such apprenticeship programs. A mechanical engineering tech can even avail voluntary certification programs offered by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies. Since mechanical engineering techs help in designing, creativity is essential. It is also necessary for them to make detailed drawings of the equipments that are used in a machine such as nuts, screws, gears, and bolts. Good communication skills are extremely important as well. In addition, the ability to work well in a team is beneficial.
Nature of Work
Most of the mechanical engineering techs work in manufacturing of transportation equipment, computer and electronic equipment, and machinery manufacturing industries. Some work in technical, scientific, and professional service industries, in design and development, or in production. Mechanical engineering techs can also supervise other workers. Besides, some prefer working as technical writers, whereas others work in technical sales. Mechanical engineering techs generally work under various conditions. While some spend their time at a drawing board, others can work in a foundry, machine shop, die-casting room, and in other manufacturing areas. A mechanical engineering tech specializing in production also needs to be comfortable working night shifts.
Area Job Conditions
Mechanical engineering techs are relatively common in Niles (Michigan), Blacksburg (Virginia), and Lowell (Massachusetts). They are rarer in Sacramento (California), Las Vegas (Nevada), and Fort Lauderdale (Florida).
Workers are paid highest in Lafayette (Indiana), Bakersfield (California), and Oxnard (California), and lowest in El Paso (Texas), Kennewick (Washington), and Billings (Montana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
About 6% of mechanical engineering techs work less than full-time. In 1% of the cases, workers work for themselves.
Career Videos
Mechanical Engineering Techs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | $36,000 | 30 | +159% |
| Birmingham | $40,000 | 80 | -46% |
| Huntsville | $47,000 | 290 | +377% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $53,000 | 580 | +8% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $46,000 | 60 | -42% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $57,000 | 120 | +56% |
| Los Angeles | $54,000 | 630 | -49% |
| Oakland | $57,000 | 350 | +16% |
| Oxnard | $64,000 | 120 | +36% |
| Riverside | $48,000 | 100 | -73% |
| Sacramento | $64,000 | 230 | -12% |
| San Diego | $48,000 | 460 | +16% |
| San Francisco | $72,000 | 170 | -44% |
| San Jose | $57,000 | 550 | +102% |
| Santa Ana | $52,000 | 390 | -12% |
| Santa Barbara | $51,000 | 70 | +44% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $57,000 | 150 | +239% |
| Colorado Springs | $54,000 | 70 | -6% |
| Denver | $58,000 | 420 | +11% |
| Fort Collins | $48,000 | 60 | +67% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $51,000 | 170 | +33% |
| Danbury | $53,000 | 110 | +492% |
| Hartford | $62,000 | 230 | +33% |
| New Haven | $52,000 | 60 | -26% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $55,000 | 200 | +106% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $55,000 | 780 | +5% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $48,000 | 130 | -28% |
| Miami | $45,000 | 50 | -83% |
| Orlando | $39,000 | 60 | -81% |
| Palm Bay | $57,000 | 130 | +125% |
| Tampa | $38,000 | 70 | -80% |
| West Palm Beach | $47,000 | 90 | -42% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $47,000 | 450 | -36% |
| Augusta | $47,000 | 70 | +16% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $50,000 | 460 | +495% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $52,000 | 1,070 | -7% |
| Decatur | $62,000 | 40 | +236% |
| Peoria | $40,000 | 150 | +203% |
| Rockford | $56,000 | 90 | +123% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $42,000 | 120 | +530% |
| Elkhart | $47,000 | 50 | +64% |
| Evansville | $52,000 | 80 | +61% |
| Fort Wayne | $49,000 | 60 | +0% |
| Gary | $63,000 | 70 | -12% |
| Indianapolis | $47,000 | 220 | -19% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $53,000 | 30 | -25% |
| Davenport | $62,000 | 50 | -8% |
| Des Moines | $46,000 | 80 | -19% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $51,000 | 190 | +122% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $47,000 | 100 | -45% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $57,000 | 80 | -28% |
| New Orleans | $72,000 | 80 | -50% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $57,000 | 40 | -32% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $56,000 | 710 | +78% |
| Bethesda | $56,000 | 310 | +78% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $54,000 | 720 | +36% |
| Framingham | $54,000 | 80 | +69% |
| Lowell | $53,000 | 130 | +280% |
| Peabody | $51,000 | 40 | +39% |
| Springfield | $56,000 | 170 | +92% |
| Worcester | $38,000 | 270 | +263% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $57,000 | 90 | +85% |
| Detroit | $56,000 | 1,800 | +790% |
| Grand Rapids | $49,000 | 370 | +227% |
| Warren | $56,000 | 1,550 | +373% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato | $48,000 | 50 | +232% |
| Minneapolis | $57,000 | 1,200 | +122% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $55,000 | 230 | -25% |
| St Louis | $61,000 | 150 | -63% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $50,000 | 50 | +114% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $42,000 | 60 | +29% |
| Omaha | $47,000 | 50 | -65% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $65,000 | 90 | -65% |
| Reno | $49,000 | 40 | -28% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $51,000 | 100 | +154% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $48,000 | 60 | -62% |
| Edison | $53,000 | 200 | -36% |
| Newark | $47,000 | 120 | -60% |
| Trenton | $51,000 | 70 | +4% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $54,000 | 220 | +90% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $46,000 | 240 | +77% |
| Binghamton | $43,000 | 70 | +119% |
| Buffalo | $48,000 | 80 | -52% |
| Nassau | $52,000 | 190 | -51% |
| New York | $54,000 | 570 | -64% |
| Poughkeepsie | $43,000 | 40 | -45% |
| Rochester | $48,000 | 230 | +51% |
| Syracuse | $50,000 | 130 | +39% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $48,000 | 110 | +113% |
| Charlotte | $54,000 | 190 | -27% |
| Durham | $45,000 | 100 | +22% |
| Greensboro | $56,000 | 70 | -34% |
| Hickory | $47,000 | 40 | -6% |
| Raleigh | $49,000 | 60 | -61% |
| Winston Salem | $47,000 | 30 | -52% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $43,000 | 60 | +72% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $46,000 | 180 | +88% |
| Canton | $50,000 | 40 | -17% |
| Cincinnati | $51,000 | 450 | +46% |
| Cleveland | $47,000 | 480 | +55% |
| Columbus | $44,000 | 470 | +68% |
| Dayton | $51,000 | 390 | +240% |
| Toledo | $48,000 | 120 | +37% |
| Youngstown | $46,000 | 40 | -40% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $44,000 | 150 | -14% |
| Tulsa | $46,000 | 120 | -7% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $52,000 | 390 | +26% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $51,000 | 40 | -61% |
| Erie | $45,000 | 40 | +9% |
| Johnstown | $49,000 | 40 | +166% |
| Lancaster | $55,000 | 50 | -28% |
| Philadelphia | $50,000 | 490 | -16% |
| Pittsburgh | $42,000 | 510 | +47% |
| Reading | $44,000 | 70 | +44% |
| Scranton | $51,000 | 50 | -35% |
| York | $56,000 | 30 | -42% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $43,000 | 90 | +5% |
| Columbia | $43,000 | 90 | -14% |
| Florence | $36,000 | 90 | +311% |
| Greenville | $51,000 | 400 | +348% |
| Spartanburg | $53,000 | 40 | +22% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $50,000 | 50 | -26% |
| Knoxville | $42,000 | 60 | -40% |
| Nashville | $52,000 | 100 | -55% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $46,000 | 210 | -12% |
| Beaumont | $61,000 | 90 | +92% |
| Dallas | $45,000 | 810 | +27% |
| El Paso | $44,000 | 30 | -63% |
| Fort Worth | $47,000 | 240 | -8% |
| Houston | $58,000 | 2,320 | +190% |
| Odessa | $50,000 | 30 | +97% |
| San Antonio | $45,000 | 160 | -40% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan | $36,000 | 40 | +221% |
| Ogden | $47,000 | 170 | +191% |
| Provo | $45,000 | 60 | +21% |
| Salt Lake City | $51,000 | 160 | -13% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $53,000 | 40 | +26% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $46,000 | 50 | +204% |
| Lynchburg | $50,000 | 110 | +295% |
| Richmond | $55,000 | 110 | -41% |
| Roanoke | $43,000 | 50 | +11% |
| Virginia Beach | $51,000 | 330 | +44% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | $58,000 | 60 | +113% |
| Seattle | $60,000 | 840 | +97% |
| Spokane | $46,000 | 120 | +99% |
| Tacoma | $61,000 | 50 | -36% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $63,000 | 50 | +53% |
| Madison | $45,000 | 220 | +117% |
| Milwaukee | $52,000 | 500 | +98% |
| Racine | $42,000 | 50 | +144% |
| Sheboygan | $52,000 | 50 | +234% |
| Wausau | $50,000 | 50 | +177% |