by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Engineering Technology explores Engineering Technologies/technicians, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers Engaged In A Wide Variety Of Projects. Includes Instruction In Various Engineering Support Functions For Research, Production, And Operations, And Applications To Specific Engineering Specialties. Examples: [Applied Engineering]. Read on to learn the important information every engineering technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering engineering technology programs.
Nationwide, engineering technology draws strong interest, with 3,770 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Engineering Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 193 schools to determine the best overall colleges for engineering technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of engineering technology programs later in this article.
Studies in Engineering Technology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations engineering technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a engineering technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a engineering technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several engineering technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 187 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,212 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,312 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,039 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to engineering technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 32.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 28.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.6% |
| Some college courses | 11.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.1% |
| Master’s degree | 2.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in engineering technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying engineering technology can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to engineering technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to engineering technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | 376,668 | -2.8% |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 261,905 | 11.0% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 214,833 | 10.6% |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 150,615 | 0.3% |
| Robotics Technicians | 45,207 | 12.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of engineering technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,327 |
| 4 years | $67,578 |
| 5 years | $74,923 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for engineering technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers engineering technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $134,632 |
| Robotics Technicians | $131,252 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $86,216 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $77,835 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $61,455 |
With 193 different engineering technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased engineering technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in engineering technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 113 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
