Jobs Similar to Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Non-Destructive Testing Specialists, Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians and Marine Engineers and Naval Architects.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians: $74,510 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-Destructive Testing SpecialistsSame group | 81% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 2 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 79% | $82,890+11% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | 79% | $112,230+51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 79% | $59,920−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 78% | $130,220+75% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Fuel Cell Engineers | 77% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Microsystems Engineers | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Photonics Engineers | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 76% | $66,120−11% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 76% | $66,120Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Chemical Technicians | 76% | $60,390−19% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Robotics Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Mechatronics Engineers | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Nuclear Technicians | 75% | $110,240+48% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 75% | $53,350−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Automotive Engineering TechniciansSame group | 75% | $74,510Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 18 | Mechanical Engineers | 75% | $104,110+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Aviation Inspectors | 75% | $92,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 74% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
- 1Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
81% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 2Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $82,890 (+11%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
79% similar · $112,230 (+51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $59,920 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
78% similar · $130,220 (+75%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Fuel Cell Engineers
77% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Microsystems Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 8Photonics Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $66,120 (−11%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $66,120 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Solar Energy Systems Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Chemical Technicians
76% similar · $60,390 (−19%) · Training or associate
- 13Robotics Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Mechatronics Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Nuclear Technicians
75% similar · $110,240 (+48%) · Training or associate
- 16Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
75% similar · $53,350 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Automotive Engineering Technicians
75% similar · $74,510 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 18Mechanical Engineers
75% similar · $104,110 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Aviation Inspectors
75% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Biomass Plant Technicians
74% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than mechanical engineering technologists and technicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former mechanical engineering technologists and technicians →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where mechanical engineering technologists and technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Mechatronics Engineers (83)
- Chemical Technicians (80)
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (79)
- Fuel Cell Engineers (78)
- Photonics Engineers (78)
- Robotics Engineers (77)
- Aviation Inspectors (75)
- Manufacturing Engineers (75)
- Validation Engineers (75)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (74)
Questions about jobs like mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
What jobs are most similar to mechanical engineering technologists and technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (81% similar), Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (79% similar), Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (79% similar), Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (79% similar) and Electronics Engineers (78% similar).
Which jobs like mechanical engineering technologists and technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Electronics Engineers ($130,220, +75%; usually a bachelor's degree), Marine Engineers and Naval Architects ($112,230, +51%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Technicians ($110,240, +48%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with mechanical engineering technologists and technicians ($74,510). Without more preparation than mechanical engineering technologists and technicians usually need: Nuclear Technicians and Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.