Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Also called: Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Mechanical Designer, Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech), Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech)Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 18 of its 30 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 1.3% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians”, which includes this one and others.
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 47% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,350 | $50,060 to $74,390 | 400 |
| Alaska | not published | not published | 70 |
| Arizona | $72,090 | $58,830 to $79,790 | 730 |
| California | $87,390 | $69,490 to $104,220 | 3,660 |
| Colorado | $77,090 | $60,270 to $85,810 | 330 |
| Connecticut | $82,660 | $63,150 to $100,450 | 350 |
| Delaware | $77,820 | $66,450 to $80,510 | 50 |
| Florida | $59,720 | $38,600 to $74,640 | 540 |
| Georgia | $73,870 | $56,530 to $99,820 | 560 |
| Idaho | $68,310 | $56,880 to $77,010 | 30 |
| Illinois | $77,020 | $62,530 to $86,660 | 1,170 |
| Indiana | $77,220 | $61,990 to $90,280 | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $71,670 | $62,270 to $85,730 | 500 |
| Kansas | $55,390 | $50,130 to $73,510 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $77,990 | $63,320 to $92,420 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $102,800 | $74,900 to $177,240 | 270 |
| Maine | $76,790 | $61,600 to $77,320 | 220 |
| Maryland | $79,180 | $62,550 to $98,830 | 640 |
| Massachusetts | $62,390 | $61,530 to $82,970 | 1,310 |
| Michigan | $68,170 | $54,080 to $81,160 | 4,930 |
| Minnesota | $63,990 | $49,820 to $80,390 | 400 |
| Mississippi | $70,570 | $60,040 to $73,940 | 220 |
| Missouri | $92,150 | $75,290 to $102,380 | 800 |
| Nebraska | $80,050 | $60,290 to $99,640 | 250 |
| Nevada | $72,950 | $53,520 to $94,260 | 420 |
| New Hampshire | $66,740 | $61,520 to $78,880 | 570 |
| New Jersey | $65,180 | $57,320 to $83,390 | 260 |
| New Mexico | $97,560 | $76,750 to $118,800 | 320 |
| New York | $78,210 | $61,370 to $82,870 | 1,140 |
| North Carolina | $62,360 | $53,070 to $76,650 | 1,190 |
| North Dakota | $76,440 | $63,540 to $82,940 | 90 |
| Ohio | $78,500 | $63,610 to $84,390 | 1,800 |
| Oklahoma | $61,480 | $58,920 to $76,810 | 490 |
| Oregon | $80,840 | $64,920 to $88,830 | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,820 | $56,480 to $85,480 | 1,620 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,860 | $47,030 to $68,210 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $81,600 | $63,280 to $140,960 | 30 |
| South Carolina | $69,580 | $60,280 to $84,430 | 1,290 |
| South Dakota | $53,670 | $48,990 to $64,900 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $62,270 | $52,160 to $78,150 | 580 |
| Texas | $76,610 | $59,580 to $102,990 | 2,140 |
| Utah | $61,870 | $51,100 to $76,610 | 900 |
| Virginia | $75,650 | $60,040 to $81,090 | 670 |
| Washington | $79,410 | $62,240 to $105,020 | 890 |
| West Virginia | $47,660 | $45,940 to $67,770 | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $67,850 | $62,450 to $80,380 | 900 |
Nationally: $74,510. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 18 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings. | 0.12% |
| AI alone | Provide technical support to other employees regarding mechanical design, fabrication, testing, or documentation. | 0.04% |
| Not much | Test machines, components, materials, or products to determine characteristics such as performance, strength, or response to stress. | Not published |
| Not much | Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Review project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| AI + software | Draft detail drawing or sketch for drafting room completion or to request parts fabrication by machine, sheet or wood shops. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record test procedures and results, numerical and graphical data, and recommendations for changes in product or test methods. | Not published |
| Not much | Design molds, tools, dies, jigs, or fixtures for use in manufacturing processes. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare equipment inspection schedules, reliability schedules, work plans, or other records. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Analyze test results in relation to design or rated specifications and test objectives, and modify or adjust equipment to meet specifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Read dials and meters to determine amperage, voltage, electrical output and input at specific operating temperature to analyze parts performance. | Not published |
| Not much | Design specialized or customized equipment, machines, or structures. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Set up and conduct tests of complete units and components under operational conditions to investigate proposals for improving equipment performance. | Not published |
| Not much | Assist engineers to design, develop, test, or manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, or other equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct failure analyses, document results, and recommend corrective actions. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare specifications, designs, or sketches for machines, components, or systems related to the generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Set up prototype and test apparatus and operate test controlling equipment to observe and record prototype test results. | Not published |
| AI alone | Review project instructions and specifications to identify, modify and plan requirements fabrication, assembly and testing. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare layouts of machinery, tools, plants, or equipment. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare parts sketches and write work orders and purchase requests to be furnished by outside contractors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Estimate cost factors including labor and material for purchased and fabricated parts and costs for assembly, testing, or installing. | Not published |
| AI + software | Evaluate tool drawing designs by measuring drawing dimensions and comparing with original specifications for form and function using engineering skills. | Not published |
| Not much | Assist mechanical engineers in product testing through activities such as setting up instrumentation for automobile crash tests. | Not published |
| AI + software | Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable and nonsustainable designs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze energy requirements and distribution systems to maximize the use of intermittent or inflexible renewable energy sources, such as wind or nuclear. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze or estimate production costs, such as labor, equipment, and plant space. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Devise, fabricate, or assemble new or modified mechanical components for products such as industrial machinery or equipment, and measuring instruments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Discuss changes in design, method of manufacture and assembly, or drafting techniques and procedures with staff and coordinate corrections. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor, inspect, or test mechanical equipment. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. O*NET hasn't rated 4 of the tasks, so they come last, in O*NET's own order. 7 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 20 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #7 Explain technical details of products or services
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- and 2 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Design industrial systems or equipment | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Test characteristics of materials or products | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Analyze performance of systems or equipment |
Show all 20 activities
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Advise others on the design or use of technologies | |||
| Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits | |||
| Determine resource needs of projects or operations | |||
| Schedule operational activities | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Fabricate devices or components |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer52%
- A chart or visualization8%
- A document or report8%
- An analysis or summary7%
- Math or a calculation3%
How they worked with Claude
35% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 7,551 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 2 Architectural and Engineering Managers High +5.5% 5%
- 3 Mechanical Engineers Very high +11.2% 5%
- 4 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 8,695 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Moderate +2.5% 4%
- 3 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 3%
- 4 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 5 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 8% high school
- 33% postsecondary certificate
- 9% some college
- 14% associate's
- 37% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 31 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 25% high school
- 30% some college
- 18% associate's
- 18% bachelor's
- 4% master's
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters” · 4,846 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters”
4 programs, such as Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician, Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other.
See all
- Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
- Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
- Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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