Ohio·Architecture and Engineering Occupations·SOC 17-3027

Best Mechanical Engineering Technologist programs in Ohio, ranked by enrollment

Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical.

25 schools in Ohio run programs that feed this job, graduating 615 people a year. The job pays a median of $78,500 in Ohio across about 1,800 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledMechanical DesignerResearch TechnicianLaboratory Technician (Lab Technician)Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech)Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech)Motor TesterTool Analyst
Graduates / yr
615
in Ohio
Median pay · Ohio
$78,500
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
1,800
people employed
Schools
25
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
39%
across those schools
Median net price
$28,560
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Ohio that lead to this job

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

4 programs in Ohio that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Ohio (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 Ohio page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 15.0805In Ohio
430
69.9%
24$61,021$24,436
2
CIP 15.0803In Ohio
134
21.8%
5$61,021$24,436
3
CIP 15.0899In Ohio
48
7.8%
4$61,021$24,436
4
CIP 15.1103In Ohio
3
0.5%
1$59,013

Top 25 schools in Ohio

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 9 of the 25 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OH Public · 3 feeder programs
91Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician28%
2Stark State College
North Canton, OH Public · 2 feeder programs
85Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$35,36223%
3University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
64Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$52,17752%60%
4University of Toledo
Toledo, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
40Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$66,03457%92%
5Edison State Community College
Piqua, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
39Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician38%
6Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH Public · 2 feeder programs
38Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician$61,02135%
7University of Dayton
Dayton, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
38Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$66,05580%$28,56065%
8North Central State College
Mansfield, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
31Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician36%
9Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
24Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other$56,33251%91%
10Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
20Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$48,31241%
11Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
19Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician64%86%
12Terra State Community College
Fremont, OH Public · 3 feeder programs
19Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician39%
13Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH Public · 2 feeder programs
17Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician31%
14Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
14Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$56,65650%84%
15Kent State University at Tuscarawas
New Philadelphia, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
12Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician38%
16Clark State College
Springfield, OH Public · 2 feeder programs
8Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician22%
17James A. Rhodes State College
Lima, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
8Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician47%
18Northwest State Community College
Archbold, OH Public · 2 feeder programs
8Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician46%
19Miami University - Hamilton
Hamilton, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
7Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician25%
20Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
6Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician$45,87316%
21Marion Technical College
Marion, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
6Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician31%
22Miami University - Middletown
Middletown, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
6Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician32%
23Lakeland Community College
Kirtland, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
5Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician24%
24Lorain County Community College
Elyria, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
5Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician31%
25Zane State College
Zanesville, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
5Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician46%

All 25 schools in Ohio

Every school in Ohio 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 Ohio that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Columbus State Community CollegeColumbusPublic913
Stark State CollegeNorth CantonPublic852
University of Akron Main CampusAkronPublic641
University of ToledoToledoPublic401
Edison State Community CollegePiquaPublic391
Owens Community CollegePerrysburgPublic382
University of DaytonDaytonPrivate not-for-profit381
North Central State CollegeMansfieldPublic311
Cleveland State UniversityClevelandPublic241
Sinclair Community CollegeDaytonPublic201
Kent State University at KentKentPublic191
Terra State Community CollegeFremontPublic193
Cuyahoga Community College DistrictClevelandPublic172
Youngstown State UniversityYoungstownPublic141
Kent State University at TuscarawasNew PhiladelphiaPublic121

What mechanical engineering technologists and technicians earn in Ohio

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

Median annual in Ohio
$78,500
Mean annual
$75,150
Jobs in state
1,800
What the range looks like
10th pct$48,820Median$78,50090th pct$97,740
Versus the national median
+5.4%

U.S. median $74,510. Ohio pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.39×

Concentrated here: Ohio employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Ohio

Cleveland, OH
$80,070median
250 jobs
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
$80,430median
290 jobs
Columbus, OH
$80,330median
280 jobs
Toledo, OH
$75,830median
60 jobs
Akron, OH
$74,000median
120 jobs
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH
$68,700median
160 jobs
Canton-Massillon, OH
$66,590median
80 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
0.0%
Little or no change
Openings per year
3,200
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
0
38,300 → 38,300
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 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians page.

How to become a Mechanical Engineering Technologist

Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0
Typical entry education
Associate's degree

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningWritingMathematics

The same job in other states

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

Related careers in Ohio

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 4 majors mapped to Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians4 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 15.0803Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0805Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.0899Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
  • 15.1103Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician

Common questions

Answers for people weighing mechanical engineering technologists and technicians programs in Ohio.

What degree do you need to become a Mechanical 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 Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician, which awarded 430 degrees in Ohio in 2024-25, 69.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Mechanical Engineering Technologist?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 4 programs to this occupation. The largest are Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. Together they graduate about 615 people a year in Ohio.

How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians earn in Ohio?+

The median is $78,500 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 5.4% above the U.S. median of $74,510. 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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians growing?+

BLS projects a +0.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 3,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

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

25 institutions in Ohio reported graduates from at least one of the 4 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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Mechanical Designer, Research Technician, Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician), Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech), Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 17-3027.

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in other statesVirginiaNew YorkNorth CarolinaIndianaMichiganFloridaNew JerseyUtah

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

All Clema data sources and release dates →

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card