Engineering Technology

1 schools compared · Average earnings $49,110/yr

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.

Schools Offering
1
Avg Grad Earnings
$49,110/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
40/100
Apprenticeship Paths
19

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 Earnings ROI
1 Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA
47
43–49
$49,110/yr 12.7x

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Engineering Technology graduates earn?
First-year earnings for Engineering Technology graduates average $49,110 annually, based on data from 1 programs. The range spans $49,110 at the low end to $49,110 at the top.
How safe is Engineering Technology from automation and AI?
Engineering Technology is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 62% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means most career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.
Which school has the best Engineering Technology program?
Our data ranks Pennsylvania College of Technology first among 1 Engineering Technology programs. Its score of 47/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($49,110/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
Do Engineering Technology graduates get a good return on their tuition?
On average, Engineering Technology graduates earn 12.7x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, and DOL RAPIDS. Methodology & sources →