Engineering Tech

Types of Degrees Engineering Tech Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many engineering technologies graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Basic Certificate	22,559
Associate Degree	22,282
Bachelor’s Degree	18,358
Undergraduate Certificate	13,388

What Engineering Tech Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, engineering tech majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Engineering Tech Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Skills for Engineering Tech Majors

engineering tech majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• 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.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Abilities for Engineering Tech Majors

A major in engineering tech will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

What Can You Do With a Engineering Tech Major?

People with a engineering tech degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians	6.6%	$67,010
Architectural Drafters	8.1%	$54,920
Automotive Engineering Technicians	5.0%	$56,250
Automotive Master Mechanics	6.1%	$40,710
Civil Drafters	8.1%	$54,920
Civil Engineering Technicians	8.9%	$52,580
Construction Managers	11.1%	$93,370
Drafters	8.2%	$51,850
Electrical Drafters	6.9%	$60,070
Electrical Engineering Technicians	2.0%	$64,330
Electrical Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Electro-Mechanical Technicians	3.6%	$57,790
Electromechanical Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Electronic Drafters	6.9%	$60,070
Electronics Engineering Technicians	2.0%	$64,330
Electronics Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Environmental Engineering Technicians	12.4%	$50,560
Fuel Cell Technicians	5.2%	$63,200
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers	17.1%	$42,030
Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers	14.7%	$47,610
Industrial Engineering Technicians	0.6%	$55,460
Industrial Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Manufacturing Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Manufacturing Production Technicians	5.2%	$63,200
Mapping Technicians	10.6%	$44,380
Mechanical Drafters	5.2%	$55,920
Mechanical Engineering Technicians	5.0%	$56,250
Mechanical Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Medical Equipment Repairers	4.2%	$49,210
Nanotechnology Engineering Technicians	5.2%	$63,200
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists	5.2%	$63,200
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists	5.2%	$63,200
Photonics Technicians	5.2%	$63,200
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers	1.6%	$57,610
Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	14.7%	$47,610
Robotics Technicians	3.6%	$57,790
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining	23.4%	$47,860
Solar Photovoltaic Installers	104.4%	$42,680
Solderers and Brazers	5.6%	$41,380
Surveying Technicians	10.6%	$44,380
Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters	5.6%	$41,380

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Engineering Tech?

This major attracts more men than women. About 84% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of engineering tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	931
Black or African American	1,780
Hispanic or Latino	3,691
White	13,832
International Students	303
Other Races/Ethnicities	1,745

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Engineering Tech, too. About 1.4% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Engineering Tech Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Engineering Tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $52,780 to $76,990 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Engineering Tech

Some degrees associated with engineering tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for engineering tech careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	2.9%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	14.5%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	15.1%
Some College Courses	8.4%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	18.2%
Bachelor’s Degree	30.4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	1.3%
Master’s Degree	6.3%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.4%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	0.2%
Doctoral Degree	1.6%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.7%

Online Engineering Tech Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	3,564	122
Certificate (2-4 Years)	134	6
Associate’s Degree	6,690	258
Bachelor’s Degree	268	72
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	684	174
Post-Master’s	20	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	72	8
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	6	4
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	2	0

Is a Degree in Engineering Tech Worth It?

The median salary for a engineering tech grad is $62,890 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 58% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $459,800 after 20 years!

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By KUKA Systems GmbH under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.