Electro-mechanical Technicians

Summary

Electro-mechanical engineering technicians combine knowledge of mechanical engineering technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits.

Quick Facts: Electro-mechanical Technicians
2010 Median Pay	$49,550 per year $23.82 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	16,400
Job Outlook, 2010-20	1% (Little or no change)
Employment Change, 2010-20	100

What Electro-mechanical Technicians Do

Electro-mechanical technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits. They install, troubleshoot, repair, and upgrade electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems, such as robotic assembly machines.

Work Environment

Electro-mechanical technicians work closely with electrical and mechanical engineers. They work primarily in manufacturing, utilities, and research and development.

How to Become an Electro-mechanical Technician

Electro-mechanical technicians typically need either an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate.

Pay

The median annual wage of electro-mechanical technicians was $49,550 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of electro-mechanical technicians is expected to grow 1 percent from 2010 to 2020, resulting in little or no change for this occupation. Electro-mechanical technicians are generalists in technology, and their broad skill set will help sustain demand for their services.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of electro-mechanical technicians with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about electro-mechanical technicians by contacting these additional resources.

What Electro-mechanical Technicians Do About this section

Electro-mechanical technicians install, repair, upgrade, and test electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems.

Electro-mechanical technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits. They install, troubleshoot, repair, and upgrade electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems, such as robotic assembly machines.

Duties

Electro-mechanical technicians typically do the following:

• Read blueprints, schematics, and diagrams to determine the method and sequence of assembly of a part, machine, or piece of equipment
• Verify dimensions of parts, using precision measuring instruments, to ensure that specifications are met
• Operate metalworking machines to make housings, fittings, and fixtures
• Repair and calibrate hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies   
• Test the performance of electro-mechanical assemblies, using test instruments
• Install electronic parts and hardware, using soldering equipment and handtools

Electro-mechanical technicians sometimes test and operate machines in factories and other worksites. They also analyze and record test results, and prepare written documentation to describe the tests they did and what the test results were.

Work Environment About this section

Electro-mechanical technicians test the performance of electro-mechanical assemblies, using test instruments.

Electro-mechanical technicians held about 16,400 jobs in 2010.

Electro-mechanical technicians work closely with electrical and mechanical engineers. They work primarily in manufacturing, utilities, and research and development. Their job tasks involve both engineering theory and assembly line production work. Consequently, they often work both at production sites and in offices.

In 2010, electro-mechanical technicians were mostly employed in the following industries:

Because their job involves manual work with many machines and types of equipment, electro-mechanical technicians are sometimes exposed to hazards from equipment or toxic materials. However, incidents are rare as long as they follow proper procedures.

How to Become an Electro-mechanical Technician About this section

Electro-mechanical technicians typically need either an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate.

Electro-mechanical technicians typically need either an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate.

Education

Associate’s degree programs for electro-mechanical technicians usually take 2 years and are offered at vocational–technical schools and community colleges. Vocational–technical schools include postsecondary public institutions that serve local students and emphasize training needed by local employers. Community colleges offer programs similar to those in technical institutes but may include more theory-based and liberal arts coursework.

Most associate’s degree programs that are accredited by ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) include at least college algebra and trigonometry as well as basic science courses. ABET-accredited programs offer training in engineering technology specialties.

In community college programs, prospective electro-mechanical technicians can concentrate in fields such as the following:

• Electro-mechanics
• Industrial maintenance
• Computer-integrated manufacturing

There are also bachelor’s degree programs in electrical engineering technology and mechanical engineering technology, although most technicians earn an associate’s degree. Graduates of bachelor’s degree programs work as electrical engineering technologists and mechanical engineering technologists, rather than as technicians. Earning an associate’s degree in electronic engineering technology eases entry into a bachelor’s degree program.

Important Qualities

Detail oriented. Electro-mechanical technicians must make and keep the precise, accurate measurements that mechanical engineers need.

Information ordering skills. To carry out engineers’ designs, inspect designs for quality control, and assemble prototypes, technicians must be able to read instructions and to follow a logical sequence or a specific set of rules.

Interpersonal skills. Electro-mechanical technicians must be able to take instruction and offer advice when needed. In addition, they often need to coordinate their work with that of others.

Manual dexterity. Electro-mechanical engineering technicians in particular must be able to use handtools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to create detailed electronic components by hand.

Math skills. Electro-mechanical engineering technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Mechanical skills. Electro-mechanical technicians must be able to apply the theory and instructions of engineers by creating or building new components for industrial machinery or equipment. They must be adept at operating machinery, including drill presses, grinders, and engine lathes.

Writing skills.  These technicians must write reports on onsite construction, the results of testing, or problems they find when carrying out designs. Their writing must be clear and well organized so that the engineers they work with can understand the reports.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of electro-mechanical technicians was $49,550 in May 2010. 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 $31,310, and the top 10 percent earned more than $73,490.

Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of electro-mechanical technicians in May 2010 were as follows:

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of electro-mechanical technicians is expected to grow 1 percent from 2010 to 2020, resulting in little or no change for this occupation. Many of these technicians are employed in manufacturing industries that are projected to decline. 

Electro-mechanical technicians are generalists in technology, and their broad skill set will help sustain demand for their services. 

As demand increases for engineers to design and build new equipment in various fields, employment of electro-mechanical technicians should also increase.

In the oil and gas industry, for example, engineers are studying drilling in the Arctic Ocean. Electro-mechanical technicians will be needed to help engineers manipulate underwater robotics in these operations.

Job Prospects

Job prospects are likely to be best for electro-mechanical technicians who train in a field known as mechatronics, which provides an understanding of four key systems:

• Mechanical systems
• Electronic systems
• Control systems
• Computer systems

Mechatronics training has two advantages for electro-mechanical technicians. First, it is multidisciplinary, which gives technicians more versatile training that is applicable across a broad range of fields. Second, it allows a technician to contribute to a product in its entirety, from concept and design to delivery.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about general engineering education and career resources, visit

American Society for Engineering Education

IEEE

Technology Student Association

For information on accredited programs, visit

ABET