Work Environment

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians held about 40,400 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:

Architectural, engineering, and related services - 22%
Machinery manufacturing - 15%
Transportation equipment manufacturing - 11%
Scientific research and development services - 6%
Computer and electronic product manufacturing - 6%

Some mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, particularly those working in factories, are exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials. However, their risk of injury or illness is low if they follow procedures.

Work Schedules

Most mechanical engineering technologists and technicians work full time.

Job Outlook

Employment of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 4,000 openings for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Because mechanical engineering technologists and technicians are directly supervised by mechanical engineers, their employment growth will be driven by many of the same factors driving employment growth for mechanical engineers. These factors include demand for engineering services in the motor vehicle parts and machinery manufacturing industries.

Companies may contract out the work of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians to consulting firms, which should lead to employment growth in this industry. Contracting for this work allows companies to obtain engineering services at a lower cost than employing in-house technologists and technicians.

Earnings

The median annual wage for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians was $60,460 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $95,300.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: