Career comparison
Mechanical Engineer vs. Mechanical Engineering Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Mechanical engineers earn more at the median ($104,110 vs. $74,510), while mechanical engineering technicians usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work. Mechanical engineering technicians build, test and improve machines and mechanical products with engineers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Mechanical Engineer | Mechanical Engineering Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) | $74,510 ($35.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $73,990 – $164,340 | $48,400 – $106,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +11.2% (much faster than average) | +1.3% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 17,800 | 3,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) |
| Work setting | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. | Technicians work in labs, shops and manufacturing plants.. |
What each job does
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Build and modify prototypes
- Set up and run tests
- Record and analyze test data
- Create CAD drawings
- Help set up manufacturing processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Choose mechanical engineering technician if…
- I like building things
- I enjoy testing and data
- I like CAD
Still torn? Take the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineering Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, mechanical engineer or mechanical engineering technician?
Mechanical Engineers earn more at the median: $104,110 versus $74,510 for mechanical engineering technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Mechanical Engineering Technicians typically train faster (2 years) than mechanical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +1.3% for mechanical engineering technicians.