Engineering Technology
Quick Facts: Engineering Technology Training
Where it's offered
Engineering Technology programs are offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $49,110/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 19 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Engineering Technology — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 1 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 40/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Engineering Technology Graduates Do
Your work will bridge the gap between digital designs and the physical world. As a surveying technician, you'll spend your days outdoors, using robotic total stations, GPS receivers, and drones to map land for new construction and infrastructure. Or you could work indoors as an engineering technologist, testing the strength of new materials in a lab, calibrating manufacturing equipment on a factory floor, or helping build the first working prototype of a new product.
Read more
You'll typically start by assisting a senior technician or licensed professional. As you build skills, you can progress to leading a field crew, becoming a senior technologist specializing in a specific system, or even earning licensure to run your own surveying firm. Your earnings grow substantially as you move from an assistant to an independent, high-skilled specialist. Fields like surveying and cartography are seeing solid growth, ensuring steady demand. While AI may help analyze data or automate some design tasks, it can’t operate equipment in the field or troubleshoot a physical prototype—that hands-on expertise remains firmly in your hands.
You may also want to compare Engineering Technology with Architectural Engineering Technology, Drafting & Design Technology, and Engineering Technology on earnings and ROI.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 19 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Engineering Technology. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Additive 3D Printing Technician
RAPIDS 2078HY |
2000-4000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Chief Of Party (Prof & Kin)
RAPIDS 53 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Geodetic Computator
RAPIDS 217 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Geospatial Specialist
RAPIDS 1062CB |
Competency | Competency | $63K – $78,380 – $100K | 6.4% |
|
Heat Transfer Technician
RAPIDS 257 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $57K – $68,730 – $83K | 0.0% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2031HY |
2736-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician)
RAPIDS 2031CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical
RAPIDS 621 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Mechanical Engineering Technician
RAPIDS 777 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $57K – $68,730 – $83K | 0.0% |
|
Mechanical Engineering Technician
RAPIDS 0777CB |
Competency | Competency | $57K – $68,730 – $83K | 0.0% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010CL |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 1010R |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Optics Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2045CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Optomechanical Technician
RAPIDS 368 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $57K – $68,730 – $83K | 0.0% |
|
Photogrammetric Technician
RAPIDS 546 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Surveyor Assistant Instrument
RAPIDS 551 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $51,940 – $65K | 4.5% |
|
Tool Design Checker
RAPIDS 587 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $57K – $68,730 – $83K | 0.0% |
|
Welding Technician
RAPIDS 498 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Engineering Technology Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Engineering Technology is offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Engineering Technology Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Engineering Technology programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA |
47 43–49 |
Highest Earning Engineering Technology Programs
Schools where Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | $49,110/yr | 47 |
Best ROI for Engineering Technology
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Engineering Technology.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | 12.7x | $49,110/yr | 47 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Engineering Technology degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.