Drafters, Engineering Technicians, and Mapping Technicians

How to become an Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist or Technician

Official title: Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Also called: Automation Technician (Automation Tech), Electro-Mechanic, Electromechanical Assembler (EM Assembler), Electromechanical Technician (EM Technician), Electronics Technician (Electronics Tech), Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech), Process Control Tech, Product Test Specialist, Test Engineering Technician (Test Engineering Tech), Test Technician (Test Tech)

Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.

Main tasks

Test performance of electromechanical assemblies, using test instruments such as oscilloscopes, electronic voltmeters, or bridges.
Install or program computer hardware or machine or instrumentation software in microprocessor-based systems.
Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders to determine methods and sequences of assembly.
Modify, maintain, or repair electrical, electronic, or mechanical components, equipment, or systems to ensure proper functioning.
Inspect parts for surface defects.
Install electrical or electronic parts and hardware in housings or assemblies, using soldering equipment and hand tools.
Verify part dimensions or clearances to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Fabricate or assemble mechanical, electrical, or electronic components or assemblies.

How to become one

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians typically need either an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate.

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Assembler, Electromechanical.
Apprenticeship: Commercial Drone Pilot.
Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General; Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians; Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $73,900 a year The middle half earn $59,780 to $88,540.
About 15,700 people work in this job now, and about 16,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.6%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist or Technician?

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians typically need either an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate.

How much does an Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist or Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $73,900 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $59,780 to $88,540.

Is an Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist or Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 15,700 to about 16,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist or Technician?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Assembler, Electromechanical.

Will AI change the work of an Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist or Technician?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.