Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Associate's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other, work in a broad segment of technical roles that support engineering activities. With national employment of 67,000 and a national median annual salary of $77,390, this field combines hands-on technical work with problem solving and analytical responsibilities. The typical entry point is an associate’s degree, making it accessible for students who want to enter a technical career without completing a four-year program. The role draws on a mix of mathematics, science, computers and information technology, mechanical knowledge, and critical and analytical thinking. Success also depends on being detail oriented, creative, and able to solve problems and make decisions. Project management, along with strong writing and reading skills, supports work on technical projects and documentation. For people who enjoy combining technical skills with practical application and structured problem solving, this occupation offers a stable pathway and can also serve as a foundation for exploring related roles in specialized engineering technology fields.
The national median annual salary for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other, is $77,390, with notable variation by location. Among the top states, Washington shows a median salary of $99,720, while California reports $80,480 and Colorado $76,110. Massachusetts and New York have median salaries of $67,450 and $65,530, respectively. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV stands out with a median salary of $99,540, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offer $84,670 and $83,940. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports a median of $78,890, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH shows $72,710. These figures indicate that earnings can differ substantially between regions, so salary potential is closely tied to where you choose to work. Candidates can use these benchmarks to compare offers and plan job searches toward regions that align with their income goals and cost-of-living preferences.
This occupation has national employment of 67,000 and projected employment growth of 1.5%, with an estimated 6,000 annual openings. The combination of existing employment size and steady replacement and growth needs supports ongoing opportunities for new entrants and experienced workers. The uniform projected growth rate of 1.5% appearing across highlighted states and metro areas suggests a consistent outlook among the locations listed. For students and career changers, the 6,000 annual openings indicate a recurring flow of roles that may include new positions as well as openings created when workers change jobs or leave the occupation. While the growth rate is modest, the mix of current employment, steady projections, and annual openings provides a foundation for planning education and job search timelines. Individuals considering this path can expect a labor market that evolves gradually rather than rapidly, making long-term career planning and skill development an important part of staying competitive.
Location can significantly shape opportunity in this occupation. Among states, California combines a relatively high median salary of $80,480 with the largest listed employment at 7,330 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Washington offers the highest state median salary at $99,720, with employment of 2,310 and an opportunity score of 56.29. Massachusetts and New York show lower median salaries of $67,450 and $65,530, with employment of 990 and 2,000 and opportunity scores around 66 and 66, respectively. Colorado provides a median salary of $76,110, employment of 1,260, and an opportunity score of 56.97. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads in opportunity score at 77.42, with a median salary of $84,670. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro follows closely in opportunity score at 77.27 and a median salary of $78,890. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV provide strong combinations of salaries in the low-to-high $80,000s and $99,540, with opportunity scores in the mid-60s. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH balances a median salary of $72,710 with an opportunity score of 63.37. These differences allow job seekers to weigh salary levels, employment concentrations, and opportunity scores when targeting specific regions.
The typical education requirement for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other, is an associate’s degree. This makes the field accessible to individuals who want a technical career path that does not require a bachelor’s degree. Within that educational track, the most relevant abilities and knowledge areas include mathematics and science, which support quantitative and analytical tasks. Competence in computers and information technology and mechanical concepts is also central to the occupation’s technical focus. Critical and analytical thinking, along with being detail oriented, underpins accurate work and sound judgments. Creativity and innovation contribute to developing and improving technical solutions, while problem solving and decision making are key to handling challenges in applied settings. Project management skills help in organizing tasks, timelines, and resources, and strong writing and reading abilities support documentation, instructions, and communication. Together, this blend of education and skills prepares individuals for a wide range of technical roles and gives them a base they can build on if they later move into related occupations, such as the various specialized engineering technologist and technician careers listed as alternatives.
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