Electrical and electronic engineering technicians make up 42 percent of
all engineering technicians.
Because the type and quality of training programs vary considerably,
prospective students should carefully investigate training programs before
enrolling.
Opportunities will be best for individuals with an associate degree or
extensive job training in engineering technology.
Engineering technicians use the principles and theories of science,
engineering, and mathematics to solve technical problems in research and
development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance.
Their work is more limited in scope and more practically oriented than that of
scientists and engineers. Many engineering technicians assist engineers and
scientists, especially in research and development. Others work in quality
control—inspecting products and processes, conducting tests, or collecting
data. In manufacturing, they may assist in product design, development, or
production. Although many workers who repair or maintain various types of
electrical, electronic, or mechanical equipment are called technicians, these
workers are covered in the Handbook section on installation, maintenance,
and repair occupations.
Engineering technicians who work in research and development build or set up
equipment, prepare and conduct experiments, collect data, calculate or record
results, and help engineers or scientists in other ways, such as making
prototype versions of newly designed equipment. They also assist in design work,
often using computer-aided design (CAD) equipment.
Most engineering technicians specialize in certain areas, learning skills
and working in the same disciplines as engineers. Occupational titles,
therefore, tend to reflect those of engineers.
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians install, construct,
maintain, and test systems used to test, launch, or track aircraft and space
vehicles. They may calibrate test equipment and determine causes of equipment
malfunctions. Using computer and communications systems, aerospace engineering
and operations technicians often record and interpret test data.
Chemical engineering technicians usually are employed in industries
producing pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and petroleum products, among others. They
work in laboratories as well as processing plants. They help to develop new
chemical products and processes, test processing equipment and instrumentation,
gather data, and monitor quality.
Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers to plan and build
highways, buildings, bridges, dams, wastewater treatment systems, and other
structures, and to do related research. Some estimate construction costs and
specify materials to be used, and some may even prepare drawings or perform
land-surveying duties. Others may set up and monitor instruments used to study
traffic conditions. ( Cost
estimators; drafters; and surveyors,
cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians are covered
elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Electrical andelectronics engineering technicians help to
design, develop, test, and manufacture electrical and electronic equipment such
as communication equipment, radar, industrial and medical measuring or control
devices, navigational equipment, and computers. They may work in product
evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test,
and repair equipment. (Workers whose jobs are limited to repairing electrical
and electronic equipment, who often are referred to as electronics technicians,
are included with electrical and
electronics installers and repairers elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Electrical and electronic engineering technology also is applied to a wide
variety of systems such as communication and process controls. Electromechanical
engineering technicians combine fundamental principles of mechanical
engineering technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits to
design, develop, test, and manufacture electrical and computer-controlled
mechanical systems.
Environmental engineering technicians work closely with environmental
engineers and scientists in developing methods and devices used in the
prevention, control, or correction of environmental hazards. They inspect and
maintain equipment affecting air pollution and recycling. Some inspect water and
wastewater treatment systems to ensure that pollution control requirements are
met.
Industrial engineering technicians study the efficient use of
personnel, materials, and machines in factories, stores, repair shops, and
offices. They prepare layouts of machinery and equipment, plan the flow of work,
make statistical studies, and analyze production costs.
Mechanical engineering technicians help engineers to design, develop,
test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other
equipment. They may assist in product tests—by setting up instrumentation for
auto crash tests, for example. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record
data, make computations, analyze results, and write reports. When planning
production, mechanical engineering technicians prepare layouts and drawings of
the assembly process and of parts to be manufactured. They estimate labor costs,
equipment life, and plant space. Some test and inspect machines and equipment or
work with engineers to eliminate production problems.
Most engineering technicians work at least 40 hours a week in laboratories,
offices, or manufacturing or industrial plants, or on construction sites. Some
may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials.
Engineering technicians held 478,000 jobs in 2002. 204,000 of these were
electrical and electronics engineering technicians, as indicated by the
following tabulation.
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
204,000
Civil engineering technicians
92,000
Industrial engineering technicians
62,000
Mechanical engineering technicians
55,000
Electro-mechanical technicians
31,000
Environmental engineering technicians
19,000
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
15,000
About 39 percent of all engineering technicians worked in manufacturing,
mainly in the computer and electronic equipment, transportation equipment, and
machinery manufacturing industries. Another 20 percent worked in professional,
scientific, and technical service industries, mostly in engineering or business
services companies that do engineering work on contract for government,
manufacturing firms, or other organizations.
In 2002, the Federal Government employed 11,000 engineering technicians.
State governments employed 34,000, and local governments employed 24,000.
Although it may be possible to qualify for certain engineering technician
jobs without formal training, most employers prefer to hire someone with at
least a 2-year associate degree in engineering technology. Training is available
at technical institutes, community colleges, extension divisions of colleges and
universities, and public and private vocational-technical schools, and in the
Armed Forces. Persons with college courses in science, engineering, and
mathematics may qualify for some positions but may need additional specialized
training and experience. Although employers usually do not require engineering
technicians to be certified, such certification may provide jobseekers a
competitive advantage.
Prospective engineering technicians should take as many high school science
and math courses as possible to prepare for postsecondary programs in
engineering technology. Most 2-year associate degree programs accredited by the
Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology (TAC/ABET) require, at a minimum, college algebra and
trigonometry, and one or two basic science courses. Depending on the specialty,
more math or science may be required.
The type of technical courses required also depends on the specialty. For
example, prospective mechanical engineering technicians may take courses in
fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical design; electrical engineering
technicians may need classes in electric circuits, microprocessors, and digital
electronics; and those preparing to work in environmental engineering technology
need courses in environmental regulations and safe handling of hazardous
materials.
Because many engineering technicians assist in design work, creativity is
desirable. Because these workers often are part of a team of engineers and other
technicians, good communication skills and the ability to work well with others
also are important.
Engineering technicians usually begin by performing routine duties under the
close supervision of an experienced technician, technologist, engineer, or
scientist. As they gain experience, they are given more difficult assignments
with only general supervision. Some engineering technicians eventually become
supervisors.
Many publicly and privately operated schools provide technical training; the
type and quality of training varies considerably. Therefore, prospective
students should be careful in selecting a program. They should contact
prospective employers regarding their preferences and ask schools to provide
information about the kinds of jobs obtained by graduates, instructional
facilities and equipment, and faculty qualifications. Graduates of
ABET-accredited programs usually are recognized to have achieved an acceptable
level of competence in the mathematics, science, and technical courses required
for this occupation.
Technical institutes offer intensive technical training through application
and practice, but less theory and general education than do community colleges.
Many offer 2-year associate degree programs, and are similar to or part of a
community college or State university system. Other technical institutes are run
by private, often for-profit organizations, sometimes called proprietary
schools. Their programs vary considerably in length and types of courses
offered, although some are 2-year associate degree programs.
Community colleges offer curriculums that are similar to those in technical
institutes, but that may include more theory and liberal arts. There may be
little or no difference between programs at technical institutes and community
colleges, as both offer associate degrees. After completing the 2-year program,
some graduates get jobs as engineering technicians, while others continue their
education at 4-year colleges. However, there is a difference between an
associate degree in pre-engineering and one in engineering technology. Students
who enroll in a 2-year pre-engineering program may find it very difficult to
find work as an engineering technician should they decide not to enter a 4-year
engineering program, because pre-engineering programs usually focus less on
hands-on applications and more on academic preparatory work. Conversely,
graduates of 2-year engineering technology programs may not receive credit for
some of the courses they have taken if they choose to transfer to a 4-year
engineering program. Colleges with these 4-year programs usually do not offer
engineering technician training, but college courses in science, engineering,
and mathematics are useful for obtaining a job as an engineering technician.
Many 4-year colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in engineering technology, but
graduates of these programs often are hired to work as technologists or applied
engineers, not technicians.
Area vocational-technical schools, another source of technical training,
include postsecondary public institutions that serve local students and
emphasize training needed by local employers. Most require a high school diploma
or its equivalent for admission.
Other training in technical areas may be obtained in the Armed Forces. Many
military technical training programs are highly regarded by employers. However,
skills acquired in military programs are often narrowly focused, so they may not
be useful in civilian industry, which often requires broader training.
Therefore, some additional training may be needed, depending on the acquired
skills and the kind of job.
The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)
has established a voluntary certification program for engineering technicians.
Certification is available at various levels, each level combining a written
examination in 1 of about 30 specialties with a certain amount of job-related
experience, a supervisory evaluation, and a recommendation.
Opportunities will be best for individuals with an associate degree or
extensive job training in engineering technology. As technology becomes more
sophisticated, employers will continue to look for technicians who are skilled
in new technology and require a minimum of additional job training. An increase
in the number of jobs related to public health and safety should create job
opportunities for engineering technicians with the appropriate certification.
Overall employment of engineering technicians is expected to increase about
as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012. Competitive pressures
will force companies to improve and update manufacturing facilities and product
designs, resulting in more jobs for engineering technicians. However, the
growing use of advanced technologies, such as computer simulation and
computer-aided design and drafting will continue to increase productivity and
limit job growth. In addition to growth, many job openings will stem from the
need to replace technicians who retire or leave the labor force.
As is the case for engineers, employment of engineering technicians is
influenced by local and national economic conditions. As a result, the
employment outlook varies with industry and specialization. Growth in the
largest specialty—electrical and electronics engineering technicians—is
expected to be about as fast as the average, and there will also be many jobs
created by the need to replace technicians who retire or leave the labor force.
Employment of environmental engineering technicians is expected to grow faster
than average, partly due to increased demand for environmental protection and
partly due to recognition of environmental engineering technicians as a separate
occupation.
Median annual earnings of engineering technicians by specialty is shown in
the following tabulation.
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
$51,650
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
42,950
Industrial engineering technicians
41,910
Mechanical engineering technicians
41,280
Electro-mechanical technicians
38,120
Civil engineering technicians
37,720
Environmental engineering technicians
36,850
Median annual earnings of electrical and electronics engineering technicians
were $42,950 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,760 and $53,200.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,770, and the highest 10 percent
earned more than $64,070. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the
largest numbers of electrical and electronics engineering technicians in 2002
are shown below.
Federal government
$58,520
Wired telecommunications carriers
49,610
Architectural, engineering, and related services
43,670
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
40,110
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments
manufacturing
39,760
Median annual earnings of civil engineering technicians were $37,720 in
2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $29,030 and $47,260. The lowest 10
percent earned less than $23,080, and the highest 10 percent earned more than
$56,910. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers
of civil engineering technicians in 2002 are shown below.
Local government
42,120
Architectural, engineering, and related services
36,930
State government
34,800
In 2002, the average annual salary for aerospace engineering and operations
technicians in the aerospace products and parts manufacturing industry was
$54,530, and the average annual salary for environmental engineering technicians
in the architectural, engineering, and related services industry was $32,690.
The average annual salary for industrial engineering technicians in the
semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing industry was $38,230.
In the architectural, engineering, and related services industry, the average
annual salary for mechanical engineering technicians was $42,090.
Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05
Edition,
Engineering Technicians
, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/
ocos112.htm
(visited May 19, 2004).
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