Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Summary

Mechanical engineering technicians fabricate components needed to implement mechanical engineers’ designs.

Quick Facts: Mechanical Engineering Technicians
2010 Median Pay	$50,110 per year $24.09 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	44,900
Job Outlook, 2010-20	4% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	1,800

What Mechanical Engineering Technicians Do

Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.

Work Environment

Mechanical engineering technicians help with manufacturing processes on the shop floor or with development phases in research and development labs before manufacturing takes place.

How to Become a Mechanical Engineering Technician

Most employers prefer to hire someone with an associate’s degree or other postsecondary training in a field such as mechanical design technology. Prospective engineering technicians should take as many science and math courses as possible while in high school.

Pay

The median annual wage of mechanical engineering technicians was $50,110 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of mechanical engineering technicians is expected to grow by 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.  Nevertheless, there should be opportunities for those who can master new software and technology, as well as traditional manual skills.

Similar Occupations

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

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about mechanical engineering technicians by contacting these additional resources.

What Mechanical Engineering Technicians Do About this section

Mechanical engineering technicians plan the assembly process to be used in industrial settings.

Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.

Duties

Mechanical engineering technicians typically do the following:

• Evaluate drawing designs for new or changed tools by measuring dimensions on the drawing and comparing them with the original specifications
• Prepare layouts and drawings of parts to be made and the process for putting them together
• Discuss changes with coworkers—for example, in the design of the part, in the way it will be made and put together, and in the techniques and process they will use
• Review instructions and blueprints for the project to ensure the test specifications, procedures, and objectives
• Plan, make, and put together new or changed mechanical parts for products, such as industrial machinery or equipment
• Set up and conduct tests of complete units and of parts as they would really be used, as a way to investigate proposals for improving equipment performance
• Record test procedures and results, numerical and graphical data, and recommendations for changes in product or test methods
• Analyze test results in regarding design specifications and test objectives

Mechanical engineering technicians also estimate labor costs, equipment life, and plant space. Some test and inspect machines and equipment or work with engineers to eliminate production problems. They may assist in testing products by, for example, setting up instrumentation for vehicle crash tests.

Work Environment About this section

Because mechanical engineering technicians work with machines of all types, they must take safety precautions in their workspace.

Mechanical engineering technicians held about 44,900 jobs in 2010. They work closely with mechanical engineers and are employed primarily in traditional manufacturing settings and in research and development laboratories. Most mechanical engineering technicians work full-time.

Industries employing the largest numbers of mechanical engineering technicians in 2010 were as follows:

Some mechanical engineering technicians may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials, but injuries are rare as long as proper procedures are followed.

How to Become a Mechanical Engineering Technician About this section

Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers manufacture industrial machinery and other equipment.

Most employers prefer to hire someone with an associate’s degree or other postsecondary training in mechanical engineering technology. Prospective engineering technicians should take as many science and math courses as possible while in high school.

Education

Prospective mechanical engineering technicians usually take courses in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical design in a program leading to an associate’s degree. The Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredits programs that include at least college algebra, trigonometry, and basic science courses. Associate’s degree programs are in the following types of institutions:

• Vocational-technical schools, which include postsecondary public institutions that serve local students and emphasize training needed by local employers.
• Community colleges, which offer programs similar to those in technical institutes but include more theory-based and liberal arts coursework.

There are also programs in mechanical engineering technology that lead to a bachelor’s degree, although most technicians graduate from associate’s degree programs. Those who complete a bachelor’s degree work as mechanical engineering technologists, rather than as technicians. In some cases, they are considered applied mechanical engineers because they put current mechanical engineering concepts to immediate use. Completing an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering technology opens the way to studying for a bachelor’s degree.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Mechanical engineering technicians follow instructions from mechanical engineers or mechanical engineering technologists. They must be able to clearly understand and follow instructions or, if they do not understand, to ask their supervisors to explain.

Creativity. Mechanical engineering technicians help to bring plans and designs to life.

Detail oriented. Mechanical engineering technicians must make precise measurements and keep accurate records for mechanical engineers.

Interpersonal skills. Mechanical engineering technicians must be able to take instructions and offer advice when it is needed.

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

Mechanical skills. Mechanical engineering technicians must apply theory and instructions from engineers by making new components for industrial machinery or equipment. They need to be able to operate machinery such as drill presses, grinders, and engine lathes.

Technical skills. Mechanical engineering technicians must be able to help engineers keep production machinery running and use equipment to record important data.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of mechanical engineering technicians was $50,110 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half of the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,940, and the top 10 percent earned more than $73,980.

Most technicians work full time.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of mechanical engineering technicians is expected to increase by 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment in this occupation depends on the overall state of manufacturing, which is expected to decline. Mechanical engineering technicians also work for firms in engineering services and in research and development, both of which contract services from manufacturing and other industries. Contracting for this work allows firms to hire these services at a lower cost than employing technicians in-house. Employment of mechanical engineering technicians will not change at the same rate in every industry.

The two expanding fields in which mechanical engineering technicians may find broader opportunities in the future are remanufacturing and alternative energies.

• Remanufacturing, the art of restoring nonworking products to working condition, is becoming increasingly important because it can reduce waste disposal costs for counties and cities. Remanufacturing is likely to be confined to domestic activity, because transportation costs to remanufacture abroad would make these products less competitive compared with newly manufactured products.
• Products from alternative energy sources, such as wind power and solar power, should be in demand because of a drive to cut energy costs. Demand for mechanical engineering technicians is expected as mechanical engineers move into these alternative energies and need help implementing designs and plans.

Job Prospects

Mastering new technology and software will likely become more important for this occupation. Those who stay aware of the latest developments should have the best job prospects.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information on general engineering education and career resources, visit

Technology Student Association

For information about accredited programs, visit

ABET