$Who Earns What

How much does a mechanical technician make?

US Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Answer: A typical mechanical technician in the United States makes $74,510 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$74,510

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 36,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$48,400
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$74,510
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$106,050
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

49 of 100
not many

Mechanical technician pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Mechanical technician pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$48,400$74,510$106,050about 36,000
States where mechanical technicians earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Missouri$92,150about 800
California$87,390about 4,000
Washington$79,410about 890
Maryland$79,180about 640
Ohio$78,500about 2,000

Why does pay differ?

In the United States, pay can differ with experience, useful skills, and optional certifications. It also varies by employer industry and location, and more complex duties or greater responsibility can pay more.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$74,510
Missouri$92,150
California$87,390
Washington$79,410
Maryland$79,180
Ohio$78,500
North Carolina$62,360
Tennessee$62,270
Utah$61,870

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a mechanical technician do?

Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

What's a typical day like?

They may read a blueprint, assemble or adjust a machine part, then test it and record measurements in a factory or lab. They share problems and results with engineers while following safety steps around machinery.

How to get this job

In the U.S., study math, science, and computer science, then earn an associate degree or certificate in mechanical engineering technology at a community or vocational school. Some certifications are optional, and a supervisor may verify your skills.

Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out.

Did you know?

Some U.S. mechanical technicians help prepare car crash tests by setting up instruments that measure what happens.

Similar jobs

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Earn more in the same field

Architecture and Engineering jobs that pay a bit more

Sources and data

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

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY