Best programs to become an engineering technologist
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for engineering technologists and technicians. The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians and Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (IPEDS completions).
32 college programs at 604 schools train engineering technologists and technicians, graduating 21,301 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $78,350 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About engineering technologists and technicians
All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.
An engineering technician is a professional trained in skills and techniques related to a specific branch of technology, with a practical understanding of the relevant engineering concepts. Engineering technicians often assist in projects relating to research and development, or focus on post-development activities like implementation or operation.
Read more on Wikipedia →Best programs to study to become an engineering technologist
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 15.0501 | 11,417 | 53.6% | 179 | $36,407 | $10,250 |
| 2 | CIP 15.0101 | 1,494 | 7.0% | 72 | $50,625 | $21,717 |
| 3 | CIP 15.0401 | 1,319 | 6.2% | 76 | $60,286 | $15,383 |
| 4 | CIP 15.1202 | 1,213 | 5.7% | 67 | $48,829 | $21,696 |
| 5 | CIP 15.1201 | 951 | 4.5% | 81 | $48,829 | $21,696 |
| 6 | CIP 15.1299 | 719 | 3.4% | 9 | $48,829 | $21,696 |
| 7 | CIP 15.1701 | 681 | 3.2% | 76 | $63,554 | $17,750 |
| 8 | CIP 15.0614 | 507 | 2.4% | 27 | $57,188 | $22,000 |
| 9 | CIP 15.1204 | 480 | 2.3% | 27 | $48,829 | $21,696 |
| 10 | CIP 15.1503 | 373 | 1.8% | 10 | $68,912 | $25,236 |
| 11 | CIP 15.1703 | 312 | 1.5% | 33 | $63,554 | $17,750 |
| 12 | CIP 15.0607 | 280 | 1.3% | 23 | $57,188 | $22,000 |
| 13 | CIP 15.0304 | 203 | 1.0% | 20 | $59,859 | $15,372 |
| 14 | CIP 15.0001 | 189 | 0.9% | 18 | $59,718 | $25,375 |
| 15 | CIP 15.1401 | 189 | 0.9% | 12 | $87,818 | $8,729 |
| 16 | CIP 15.0307 | 143 | 0.7% | 12 | $59,859 | $15,372 |
| 17 | CIP 15.1103 | 127 | 0.6% | 5 | $59,013 | — |
| 18 | CIP 15.0599 | 120 | 0.6% | 13 | $36,407 | $10,250 |
| 19 | CIP 15.0617 | 114 | 0.5% | 8 | $57,188 | $22,000 |
| 20 | CIP 15.0611 | 82 | 0.4% | 5 | $57,188 | $22,000 |
| 21 | CIP 15.1702 | 74 | 0.3% | 5 | $63,554 | $17,750 |
| 22 | CIP 15.0615 | 67 | 0.3% | 5 | $57,188 | $22,000 |
| 23 | CIP 15.0806 | 63 | 0.3% | 4 | $61,021 | $24,436 |
| 24 | CIP 15.0901 | 61 | 0.3% | 3 | $59,357 | $18,848 |
| 25 | CIP 15.1704 | 47 | 0.2% | 7 | $63,554 | $17,750 |
| 26 | Undersea Warfaremain feeder CIP 29.0307 | 32 | 0.2% | 1 | — | — |
| 27 | CIP 15.1203 | 25 | 0.1% | 5 | $48,829 | $21,696 |
| 28 | Engineering Acousticsmain feeder CIP 29.0303 | 6 | 0.0% | 2 | — | — |
| 29 | Operational Oceanographymain feeder CIP 29.0306 | 6 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 30 | CIP 15.0807 | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $61,021 | $24,436 |
| 31 | CIP 15.1799 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $63,554 | $17,750 |
| 32 | CIP 29.0409 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $52,897 | $19,407 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What engineering technologists and technicians earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $70,500 | 2,820 | 0.74× | 55 | 3,947 |
| Texas | $73,860 | 7,110 | 1.31× | 40 | 3,190 |
| California | $80,480 | 7,330 | 1.04× | 74 | 2,403 |
| Michigan | $73,960 | 1,130 | 0.67× | 24 | 915 |
| Ohio | $77,590 | 1,340 | 0.62× | 24 | 910 |
| New York | $65,530 | 2,000 | 0.54× | 31 | 863 |
| North Carolina | $72,070 | 1,530 | 0.80× | 30 | 743 |
| Illinois | $79,800 | 940 | 0.40× | 24 | 653 |
| New Jersey | $87,450 | 880 | 0.53× | 11 | 585 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,930 | 1,610 | 0.69× | 23 | 464 |
| Utah | $79,370 | 920 | 1.38× | 10 | 451 |
| Mississippi | $79,350 | 350 | 0.77× | 5 | 435 |
| Maryland | $99,970 | 2,630 | 2.47× | 8 | 375 |
| Alabama | $74,650 | 690 | 0.85× | 12 | 367 |
| Georgia | $68,370 | 1,890 | 1.00× | 17 | 304 |
| Connecticut | $74,870 | 1,300 | 1.99× | 7 | 302 |
| Indiana | $88,880 | 480 | 0.39× | 5 | 296 |
| Minnesota | $81,290 | 670 | 0.59× | 14 | 288 |
| Kansas | $61,710 | 920 | 1.67× | 8 | 264 |
| Missouri | $72,320 | 590 | 0.52× | 10 | 262 |
| Virginia | $98,410 | 3,720 | 2.35× | 10 | 252 |
| Colorado | $76,110 | 1,260 | 1.14× | 9 | 238 |
| Wisconsin | $74,940 | 480 | 0.43× | 9 | 203 |
| Tennessee | $58,700 | 990 | 0.78× | 6 | 179 |
| Washington | $99,720 | 2,310 | 1.69× | 13 | 173 |
| Arkansas | $68,060 | 230 | 0.45× | 9 | 146 |
| Kentucky | $65,660 | 380 | 0.49× | 9 | 135 |
| South Carolina | $80,540 | 620 | 0.70× | 6 | 125 |
| Arizona | $59,580 | 990 | 0.79× | 7 | 119 |
| Massachusetts | $67,450 | 990 | 0.71× | 9 | 100 |
| Oregon | $76,960 | 1,010 | 1.33× | 6 | 83 |
| Idahomoderate | $65,790 | 260 | 0.78× | 4 | 77 |
| Louisianamoderate | $58,960 | 2,110 | 2.83× | 4 | 73 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $81,330 | 870 | 1.33× | 4 | 61 |
| Rhode Islandmoderate | $94,570 | 380 | 1.96× | 3 | 59 |
| Nevadamoderate | $93,670 | 590 | 0.98× | 4 | 58 |
| Nebraskamoderate | $67,200 | 260 | 0.66× | 4 | 44 |
| New Mexico | $101,750 | 1,390 | 4.13× | 5 | 40 |
| Iowamoderate | $63,120 | 380 | 0.63× | 4 | 38 |
| Mainelimited | $107,060 | 810 | 3.29× | 2 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $80,990 | 100 | 0.62× | 5 | 24 |
| District of Columbialimited | — | 470 | 1.73× | 2 | 23 |
| Delawarelimited | $75,780 | — | — | 1 | 18 |
| Alaskalimited | $89,810 | 380 | 3.07× | 2 | 13 |
| Montanamoderate | $65,730 | 210 | 1.05× | 3 | 12 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $81,330 | 450 | 1.66× | 3 | 11 |
| Wyominglimited | $79,440 | 130 | 1.25× | 2 | 11 |
| Vermontlimited | $52,770 | 130 | 1.14× | 1 | 10 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $76,720 | 340 | 1.30× | 2 | 8 |
| Hawaiilimited | $90,040 | 410 | 1.68× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Interpret the results of all methods of non-destructive testing (NDT), such as acoustic emission, electromagnetic, leak, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, neutron radiographic, radiographic, thermal or infrared, ultrasonic, vibration analysis, and visual testing.
- Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
- Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
- Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
- Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
- Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
- Visually examine materials, structures, or components for signs of corrosion, metal fatigue, cracks, or other flaws, using tools and equipment such as endoscopes, closed-circuit television systems, and fiber optics.
- Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.7
- Active Listening3.5
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Writing3.2
- Speaking3.1
- Mathematics2.9
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology4.0
- Computers and Electronics3.7
- Mathematics3.7
- English Language3.6
- Physics3.5
- Mechanical3.4
Abilities
- Near Vision3.9
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
- Written Comprehension3.8
- Oral Comprehension3.7
- Deductive Reasoning3.6
- Information Ordering3.6
Core activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.5
- Getting Information4.3
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.3
- Documenting/Recording Information4.3
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.2
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.1
How to get in
How to become an engineering technologist
- 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.
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
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an engineering technologist?+
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for engineering technologists and technicians. The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians and Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming an engineering technologist?+
The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians and Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 32 programs to this job, which together graduate about 21,301 people a year.
How much do engineering technologists and technicians earn?+
The median is $78,350 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $47,030 at the 10th percentile to $118,330 at the 90th. 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?+
604 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 32 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.
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 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected 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 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, 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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