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Mechanical Engineering Technician

Life As a Mechanical Engineering Technician

Mechanical Engineering Technician Job Description Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or calibrate machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

What Do Mechanical Engineering Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Read dials and meters to determine amperage, voltage, electrical output and input at specific operating temperature to analyze parts performance.
  • Set up and conduct tests of complete units and components under operational conditions 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.
  • Estimate cost factors including labor and material for purchased and fabricated parts and costs for assembly, testing, or installing.
  • Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.
  • Inspect lines and figures for clarity and return erroneous drawings to designer for correction.

Qualities of a Mechanical Engineering Technician

When polled, Mechanical Engineering Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Other Mechanical Engineering Technician Job Titles

  • Engineering Lab Technician
  • Proof Technician
  • Process Engineering Technician
  • Research and Development Technician
  • Automation Design Checker

Is There Going to be Demand for Mechanical Engineering Technicians?

There were about 46,100 jobs for Mechanical Engineering Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,300 new jobs for Mechanical Engineering Technician by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,200 positions for Mechanical Engineering Technician per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Mechanical Engineering Technician are Utah, Connecticut, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Mechanical Engineering Technician Average Salary

Mechanical Engineering Technicians make between $34,900 and $85,430 a year.

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Mechanical Engineering Technicians who work in Louisiana, New Mexico, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Mechanical Engineering Technicians in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $57,670
Alaska $65,050
Arizona $57,620
Arkansas $53,860
California $62,510
Colorado $68,690
Connecticut $69,900
District of Columbia $55,820
Florida $50,360
Georgia $55,540
Idaho $54,740
Illinois $60,940
Indiana $53,430
Iowa $51,710
Kansas $55,210
Kentucky $50,510
Louisiana $82,350
Maine $62,720
Maryland $61,790
Massachusetts $60,100
Michigan $55,470
Minnesota $58,940
Mississippi $61,630
Missouri $51,850
Montana $55,070
Nebraska $56,070
Nevada $67,610
New Hampshire $55,160
New Jersey $55,090
New Mexico $79,530
New York $60,000
North Carolina $54,810
North Dakota $59,350
Ohio $54,660
Oklahoma $58,630
Oregon $51,860
Pennsylvania $54,640
Rhode Island $59,180
South Carolina $58,790
South Dakota $43,310
Tennessee $55,730
Texas $67,740
Utah $54,060
Vermont $53,420
Virginia $60,860
Washington $65,300
West Virginia $54,950
Wisconsin $52,140

What Tools & Technology do Mechanical Engineering Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Mechanical Engineering Technicians may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Project
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Corel WordPerfect
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
  • Autodesk Inventor

How to Become a Mechanical Engineering Technician

Are there Mechanical Engineering Technicians education requirements?

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What work experience do I need to become a Mechanical Engineering Technician?

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Mechanical Engineering Technician may also be interested in:

Career changers with experience as a Mechanical Engineering Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: via Creative Commons CC0

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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