Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$74,510
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$35.82
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$106,050
entry level starts ~$48,400
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 36,000 employed

How much do Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians make?

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median annual salary of $74,510 in the United States, which works out to roughly $35.82 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $48,400 at the entry level and $106,050 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $59,510 and $88,110 a year.

That is $13,120 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary range by percentile

Half of all Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn between $59,510 and $88,110 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$48,400$23.27
25th percentile (early career)$59,510$28.61
50th percentile (median)$74,510$35.82
75th percentile (experienced)$88,110$42.36
90th percentile (top earners)$106,050$50.99

Highest-paying states for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Louisiana leads the country for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay at $102,800 a year, followed by New Mexico ($97,560) and Missouri ($92,150). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $47,660 — a gap of $55,140 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Louisiana$102,800$49.42+38%
2New Mexico$97,560$46.90+31%
3Missouri$92,150$44.30+24%
4California$87,390$42.01+17%
5Connecticut$82,660$39.74+11%

Workforce and education

About 36,000 people work as Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the United States. On qualifications: an associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians make in the United States?
The median Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in the United States is $74,510 per year, or about $35.82 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $48,400, while the top 10% of earners make $106,050 or more.
How does Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians median of $74,510 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians the most?
Louisiana is the highest-paying state for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, with a median salary of $102,800 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians need?
For most positions, an associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians work in the United States?
About 36,000 people were employed as Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other engineering roles with similar pay.

Drafter, All Other

$63,520
median pay · 14,000 employed

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

$81,390
median pay · 14,000 employed

Architectural and Civil Drafters

$66,150
median pay · 104,000 employed

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

$99,280
median pay · 107,000 employed

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$66,120
median pay · 76,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.