How to become an engineering technician
Official title: Engineering technicians
Also called: Technician, Traffic technician, Technician engineer, Aircraft technician, Airframe technician, Engineering assistant, Instrument technician, Mechanical technician, Engineering technician, Engineering coordinator, Installation technician, Wind turbine technician
Engineering technicians perform a variety of technical support functions to assist engineers with the design, development, operation, installation and maintenance of engineering systems and constructions.
Main tasks
- Plans and prepares work and test schedules based on specifications and drawings
- Sets up equipment, undertakes tests, takes readings, performs calculations and records and interprets data
- Prepares estimates of materials, equipment and labour required for engineering projects
- Diagnoses and detects faults and implements procedures to maintain efficient operation of systems and equipment
- Inspects completed aircraft maintenance work to certify that it meets standards and the aircraft is ready for operation
- Visits and advises clients on the use and servicing of mechanical and chemical engineering products and services
- Provides health and safety inductions and adheres to health and safety procedures
- Completes documentation such as project records, safety reports
How to become one
Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades. Vocational training consists either of full-time study for a BTEC/SQA award followed by two years on-the-job training, or an apprenticeship leading to a qualification at level 3 or 4. An NVQ/SVQ in Aircraft Engineering Maintenance at level 3 plus further professional qualifications are required to become a licensed aircraft engineer.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Compressed air and vacuum technician (level 3). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0817.
- Apprenticeship (England): Heritage engineering technician (level 3). England. Typically 42 months. Skills England standard ST0571.
- Apprenticeship (England): Lift truck and powered access engineering technician (level 3). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0387.
- Apprenticeship (England): Rail engineering operative (level 2). England. Typically 15 months. Skills England standard ST0317.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £44,843 a year The middle half earn £35,086 to £55,963.
- About 48,300 people work in this job now, and about 51,800 are projected by 2035. (+7.3%)
Related jobs
- Laboratory technicians
- Electrical and electronics technicians
- Building and civil engineering technicians
- Quality assurance technicians
- Planning, process and production technicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become an engineering technician?
Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades. Vocational training consists either of full-time study for a BTEC/SQA award followed by two years on-the-job training, or an apprenticeship leading to a qualification at level 3 or 4. An NVQ/SVQ in Aircraft Engineering Maintenance at level 3 plus further professional qualifications are required to become a licensed aircraft engineer.
How much does an engineering technician earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £44,843 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £35,086 to £55,963.
Is an engineering technician a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 48,300 to about 51,800 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become an engineering technician?
Not always. 32% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Compressed air and vacuum technician (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03