What is a Mechanical Engineering Technologist?
Career Description Assist mechanical engineers in such activities as generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy. Prepare layouts of machinery or equipment or plan the flow of work. May conduct statistical studies or analyze production costs.
Life As a Mechanical Engineering Technologist
- Design molds, tools, dies, jigs, or fixtures for use in manufacturing processes.
- Conduct failure analyses, document results, and recommend corrective actions.
- Perform routine maintenance on equipment, such as leak detectors, glove boxes, or mechanical pumps.
- Assist engineers to design or develop electrochemical devices, such as solid oxide membranes or other products for sustainable applications.
- Analyze energy requirements and distribution systems to maximize the use of intermittent or inflexible renewable energy sources, such as wind or nuclear.
- Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
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What a Mechanical Engineering Technologist Should Know
When polled, Mechanical Engineering Technologists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Other Mechanical Engineering Technologist Job Titles
- Mechanical Maintenance
- Senior Advisory
- Mechanical Technologist
- Test Engineering Analyst
- Mechanical Designer/Wind-Chill Administrator
What Kind of Mechanical Engineering Technologist Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 76,800 jobs for Mechanical Engineering Technologist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,000 new jobs for Mechanical Engineering Technologist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Mechanical Engineering Technologist are Utah, Nevada, and Connecticut. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, West Virginia, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Mechanical Engineering Technologist Salary
Mechanical Engineering Technologists make between $36,120 and $98,720 a year.

Mechanical Engineering Technologists who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Maine, make the highest salaries.
How much do Mechanical Engineering Technologists make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $59,380 |
Alaska | $71,850 |
Arizona | $59,210 |
Arkansas | $60,310 |
California | $71,420 |
Colorado | $63,590 |
Connecticut | $64,510 |
Delaware | $51,380 |
District of Columbia | $92,600 |
Florida | $58,860 |
Georgia | $59,830 |
Hawaii | $76,070 |
Idaho | $55,540 |
Illinois | $63,760 |
Indiana | $58,450 |
Iowa | $57,620 |
Kansas | $65,870 |
Kentucky | $58,880 |
Louisiana | $59,930 |
Maine | $79,670 |
Maryland | $84,790 |
Massachusetts | $64,220 |
Michigan | $64,270 |
Minnesota | $57,440 |
Mississippi | $60,500 |
Missouri | $59,830 |
Montana | $59,810 |
Nebraska | $57,630 |
Nevada | $71,330 |
New Hampshire | $57,730 |
New Jersey | $75,380 |
New Mexico | $78,160 |
New York | $63,780 |
North Carolina | $63,600 |
North Dakota | $75,030 |
Ohio | $61,060 |
Oklahoma | $63,790 |
Oregon | $56,890 |
Pennsylvania | $57,210 |
Rhode Island | $73,240 |
South Carolina | $70,820 |
South Dakota | $51,110 |
Tennessee | $57,800 |
Texas | $66,630 |
Utah | $56,480 |
Vermont | $58,960 |
Virginia | $77,280 |
Washington | $74,810 |
West Virginia | $70,550 |
Wisconsin | $58,780 |
Wyoming | $67,110 |
What Tools do Mechanical Engineering Technologists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Mechanical Engineering Technologists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft SharePoint
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Bentley Microstation
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Mathsoft Mathcad
- Data acquisition software
- Finite element method FEM software
- Autodesk Inventor
- ANSYS FLUENT
- ANSYS
- ProModel
Becoming a Mechanical Engineering Technologist
Individuals working as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Mechanical Engineering Technologists Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Mechanical Engineering Technologists employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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