How much does an engineering technician make?
a year · about $38 an hour
A typical engineering technician in the United States makes $78,350 a year, about $38 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A technician may set up instruments and test a part, sample, or machine using a plan. Then they record the results, compare them with the design, and tell engineers about any problems.
Did you know? Some engineering technicians use ultrasound like a fish finder: sound echoes can reveal hidden changes inside a part.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $47,030 and $118,330How do you become one?
In the US, many begin after high school, earning a technical certificate or associate degree before starting work. Some specialties, such as nondestructive testing, also require hands-on practice and method-specific certification exams.
Why does pay differ?
In the US, pay can differ with experience, specialized skills, and certifications, especially in areas such as nondestructive testing. Location, industry or employer, and overtime hours can also change what a technician earns.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Maine ($107,060), lowest in Tennessee ($58,700).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $47,030 | $78,350 | $118,330 | about 60,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $107,060 | about 810 |
| New Mexico | $101,750 | about 1,000 |
| Maryland | $99,970 | about 3,000 |
| Washington | $99,720 | about 2,000 |
| Virginia | $98,410 | about 4,000 |
Official definition: All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes173029.htm
- www.energy.gov/eere/water/engineering-technician-0
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-3029.00
- www.asnt.org/what-is-nondestructive-testing/career-pathways/ndt-technician
- www.cool.osd.mil/dciv/credential/index.html?cert=asntndtut5747
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY