Michigan·Architecture and Engineering Occupations·SOC 17-3029

Best Engineering Technologist programs in Michigan, ranked by enrollment

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed.

24 schools in Michigan run programs that feed this job, graduating 915 people a year. The job pays a median of $73,960 in Michigan across about 1,130 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledFiber Optics InstructorLaser Technician (Laser Tech)Optics Technician (Optics Tech)Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech)NDT Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Specialist)NDT Technician (Non-Destructive Testing Technician)NDE Technician (Non-Destructive Evaluation Technician)NDT Technical Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Technical Specialist)
Graduates / yr
915
in Michigan
Median pay · Michigan
$73,960
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
1,130
people employed
Schools
24
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
40%
across those schools
Median net price
$33,047
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Michigan that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.05
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
559graduates / yr
8 schools · 1 specialization · 61.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,407
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.15
Engineering-Related Fields
145graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 15.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $68,912
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.17
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
52graduates / yr
5 schools · 2 specializations · 5.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $63,554
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.01
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
51graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 5.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $50,625
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.06
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
42graduates / yr
3 schools · 3 specializations · 4.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,188
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.12
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
33graduates / yr
4 schools · 5 specializations · 3.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,829
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.03
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
21graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 2.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $59,859
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.04
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
7graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $60,286
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CIP 15.14
Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $87,818

17 programs in Michigan that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Michigan (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Michigan page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 15.0501In Michigan
559
61.1%
8$36,407$10,250
2
CIP 15.1503In Michigan
145
15.8%
1$68,912$25,236
3
CIP 15.0101In Michigan
51
5.6%
3$50,625$21,717
4
CIP 15.1701In Michigan
50
5.5%
5$63,554$17,750
5
CIP 15.0607In Michigan
34
3.7%
3$57,188$22,000
6
CIP 15.1202In Michigan
24
2.6%
4$48,829$21,696
7
CIP 15.0304In Michigan
15
1.6%
1$59,859$15,372
8
CIP 15.0401In Michigan
7
0.8%
1$60,286$15,383
9
CIP 15.0614In Michigan
7
0.8%
2$57,188$22,000
10
CIP 15.0307In Michigan
6
0.7%
2$59,859$15,372
11
CIP 15.1204In Michigan
5
0.5%
1$48,829$21,696
12
CIP 15.1401In Michigan
5
0.5%
1$87,818$8,729
13
CIP 15.1201In Michigan
2
0.2%
1$48,829$21,696
14
CIP 15.1799In Michigan
2
0.2%
1$63,554$17,750
15
CIP 15.0611In Michigan
1
0.1%
1$57,188$22,000
16
CIP 15.1203In Michigan
1
0.1%
1$48,829$21,696
17
CIP 15.1299In Michigan
1
0.1%
1$48,829$21,696

Top 24 schools in Michigan

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 4 of the 24 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Northwestern Technological Institute
Southfield, MI Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
469Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician$36,01572%$33,047
2Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
145Packaging Science$76,56381%85%
3Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI Public · 4 feeder programs
131Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians47%91%
4Macomb Community College
Warren, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
23Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician18%
5Mott Community College
Flint, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
16Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician32%
6Universal Technical Institute - Canton
Canton, MI Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
15Laser and Optical Technology/Technician64%$22,762
7Wayne State University
Detroit, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
15Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician58%81%
8Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
11Energy Systems Technology/Technician17%
9Bay de Noc Community College
Escanaba, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
10Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician30%
10Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
10Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician28%
11Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
10Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician21%
12Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
8Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician52%84%
13Schoolcraft Community College District
Livonia, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
8Biomedical Technology/Technician$57,10418%
14Kellogg Community College
Battle Creek, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
7Computer Software Technology/Technician30%
15Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
6Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician46%80%
16Monroe County Community College
Monroe, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
6Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician34%
17Delta College
University Center, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
5Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians27%
18Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
5Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician$70,62221%
19University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
5Audio Engineering Technology/Technician93%16%
20Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
4Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician33%
21Lansing Community College
Lansing, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
3Energy Systems Technology/Technician25%
22Alpena Community College
Alpena, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
1Energy Systems Technology/Technician52%
23Glen Oaks Community College
Centreville, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
1Welding Engineering Technology/Technician43%
24Muskegon Community College
Muskegon, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
1Energy Systems Technology/Technician28%

All 24 schools in Michigan

Every school in Michigan with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Michigan that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Northwestern Technological InstituteSouthfieldPrivate for-profit4691
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingPublic1451
Ferris State UniversityBig RapidsPublic1314
Macomb Community CollegeWarrenPublic231
Mott Community CollegeFlintPublic161
Universal Technical Institute - CantonCantonPrivate for-profit151
Wayne State UniversityDetroitPublic153
Henry Ford CollegeDearbornPublic113
Bay de Noc Community CollegeEscanabaPublic101
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazooPublic101
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn HillsPublic102
Northern Michigan UniversityMarquettePublic81
Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivoniaPublic82
Kellogg Community CollegeBattle CreekPublic72
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilantiPublic62

What engineering technologists and technicians earn in Michigan

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Michigan
$73,960
Mean annual
$74,320
Jobs in state
1,130
What the range looks like
10th pct$45,390Median$73,96090th pct$107,520
Versus the national median
-5.6%

U.S. median $78,350. Michigan pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.67×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Michigan

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$77,710median
730 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$81,640median
70 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$60,150median
40 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+1.5%
Little or no change
Openings per year
5,700
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
1,000
67,300 → 68,300
Typical entry education
Associate's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Engineering Technologists and Technicians page.

How to become a Engineering Technologist

Job zone 2 of 5 · SVP Below 6.0
Typical entry education
Associate's degree

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringActive LearningWriting

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Michigan

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Engineering Technologists and Technicians25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 15.0001Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians
  • 15.0101Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
  • 15.0304Laser and Optical Technology/Technician
  • 15.0307Audio Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0401Biomedical Technology/Technician
  • 15.0501Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0599Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other
  • 15.0607Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0611Metallurgical Technology/Technician
  • 15.0614Welding Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0615Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0617Composite Materials Technology/Technician
  • 15.0806Marine Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0807Motorsports Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0901Mining Technology/Technician
  • 15.1103Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician
  • 15.1201Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.1202Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician
  • 15.1203Computer Hardware Technology/Technician
  • 15.1204Computer Software Technology/Technician
  • 15.1299Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
  • 15.1401Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.1503Packaging Science
  • 15.1701Energy Systems Technology/Technician
  • 15.1702Power Plant Technology/Technician

Common questions

Answers for people weighing engineering technologists and technicians programs in Michigan.

What degree do you need to become an Engineering Technologist?+

Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician, which awarded 559 degrees in Michigan in 2024-25, 61.1% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming an Engineering Technologist?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 17 programs to this occupation. The largest are Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Engineering-Related Fields, Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians, Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 915 people a year in Michigan.

How much do engineering technologists and technicians earn in Michigan?+

The median is $73,960 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 5.6% below the U.S. median of $78,350. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for engineering technologists and technicians growing?+

BLS projects a +1.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 5,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Michigan?+

24 institutions in Michigan reported graduates from at least one of the 17 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do engineering technologists and technicians work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Fiber Optics Instructor, Laser Technician (Laser Tech), Optics Technician (Optics Tech), Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech), NDT Specialist (Non-Destructive Testing Specialist), NDT Technician (Non-Destructive Testing Technician) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 17-3029.

Engineering Technologists and Technicians in other statesFloridaTexasCaliforniaOhioNew YorkNorth CarolinaIllinoisNew Jersey

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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