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Engineering Technology

9 schools compared · Average earnings $51,680/yr

What Engineering Technology Graduates Do

Your work bridges the gap between abstract engineering designs and tangible reality. As an engineering technologist, you're the one who makes things work. One day, you might be in a lab using an oscilloscope to test the performance of a new electronic circuit board; the next, you could be on a factory floor, observing a production line to identify and solve efficiency-killing bottlenecks.

You’ll typically start as a technician, learning specific systems while assisting senior staff. With experience, you’ll take on your own projects, from installation to troubleshooting. This leads to senior roles where you might specialize in a complex field like mechatronics or aerospace, or move into a supervisory position managing a team.

While most fields offer steady demand, areas like aerospace technology are growing much faster than average. This career path provides a solid starting salary that grows significantly as you gain experience and specialize. While AI tools will increasingly assist with planning and data analysis, the core of your job remains hands-on—they can’t replace your ability to build, test, and troubleshoot the physical systems that run our world.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$51,680/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

48/100

AI-Proof Rating

Resilient

57% of tasks AI-shielded

Apprenticeship Paths

View pathways ↓

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 31 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%
Assembler, Electromechanical RAPIDS 875	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $70,760 – $87K	1.1%
Calibration Laboratory Technician RAPIDS 895	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Commercial Drone Pilot (Existing Title: Electro-Mechanical Technicians) RAPIDS 167	5580 hrs ~2.8 yrs	Time	$59K – $70,760 – $87K	1.1%
Electrical Instrument Repairer RAPIDS 157	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Electrical Technician RAPIDS 155	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Electromechanical Technician RAPIDS 167	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $70,760 – $87K	1.1%
Electromechanical Technician RAPIDS 0167CB	Competency	Competency	$59K – $70,760 – $87K	1.1%
Electronic Industrial Control Mechanic (Existing Title: Electromechanical Tech) RAPIDS 0167R	5840 hrs ~2.9 yrs	Time	$59K – $70,760 – $87K	1.1%
Electronics Technician RAPIDS 169	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Industrial Engineering Technician RAPIDS 259	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $64,790 – $79K	1.7%
Industrial Engineering Technician RAPIDS 0259CB	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $64,790 – $79K	1.7%
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%
Instrument Mech, Weapons System RAPIDS 996	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrument Mechanic (Any Ind) RAPIDS 644	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrument Repairer (Any Ind) RAPIDS 775	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrument Technician (Utilities) RAPIDS 252	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrumentation & Controls Technician (Existing Title: Instrument Technician (Utilities)) RAPIDS 0252HY	6000-8000 hrs	Hybrid	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Instrumentation Technician RAPIDS 255	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
It Lab Technician RAPIDS 0169CB	Competency	Competency	$61K – $77,180 – $95K	0.6%
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical RAPIDS 621	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
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%
Quality Control Technician RAPIDS 462	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $64,790 – $79K	1.7%
Research Mechanic (Aircraft) RAPIDS 788	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$65K – $79,830 – $102K	8.1%
Test Equipment Mechanic RAPIDS 190	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$65K – $79,830 – $102K	8.1%
Welding Technician RAPIDS 498	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Wind Tunnel Mechanic RAPIDS 499	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$65K – $79,830 – $102K	8.1%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Engineering Technology

9 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN	73 69–75	$77,072/yr	167.4x
2	Jackson State Community College Jackson, TN	64 61–66	$61,123/yr	66.7x
3	Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN	64 57–66	$52,531/yr	76.6x
4	Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Okmulgee, OK	62 55–64	$53,143/yr	63.4x
5	Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN	60 54–62	$46,301/yr	63.8x
6	Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI	59 55–61	$46,493/yr	45.8x
7	Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI	57 54–59	$50,148/yr	45.9x
8	Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL	56 48–59	$38,981/yr	59.9x
9	Morrison Institute of Technology Morrison, IL	42 38–44	$39,332/yr	8.9x

Highest Earning Engineering Technology Programs

Schools where Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Pellissippi State Community College	$77,072/yr	73
Jackson State Community College	$61,123/yr	64
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology	$53,143/yr	62
Chattanooga State Community College	$52,531/yr	64
Northwestern Michigan College	$50,148/yr	57
Kalamazoo Valley Community College	$46,493/yr	59
Pellissippi State Community College	$46,301/yr	60
Morrison Institute of Technology	$39,332/yr	42
Jefferson State Community College	$38,981/yr	56

Best ROI for Engineering Technology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Engineering Technology.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Pellissippi State Community College	167.4x	$77,072/yr	73
Chattanooga State Community College	76.6x	$52,531/yr	64
Jackson State Community College	66.7x	$61,123/yr	64
Pellissippi State Community College	63.8x	$46,301/yr	60
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology	63.4x	$53,143/yr	62
Jefferson State Community College	59.9x	$38,981/yr	56
Northwestern Michigan College	45.9x	$50,148/yr	57
Kalamazoo Valley Community College	45.8x	$46,493/yr	59
Morrison Institute of Technology	8.9x	$39,332/yr	42

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, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Engineering Technology graduates earn?

The median first-year salary across 9 Engineering Technology programs is $51,680. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($38,981) and highest ($77,072) earning programs is significant.

How safe is Engineering Technology from automation and AI?

Our analysis rates Engineering Technology as "Resilient" for automation risk. With 57% of tasks requiring physical presence or manual skill, most the work in this trade remains beyond AI's reach.

What's the top-ranked school for Engineering Technology?

Pellissippi State Community College leads all 9 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 73/100. Graduates earn $77,072/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.

Do Engineering Technology graduates get a good return on their tuition?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 66.5x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.

Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →