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What is a mechanical laboratory technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a mechanical laboratory technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.13 an hour? That's $43,949 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 2% and produce 900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreMechanical Laboratory TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.4

Avg. Salary $43,949

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.6

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 12.07%

Black or African American 9.93%

Hispanic or Latino 16.26%

Unknown 5.19%

White 55.74%

Gender

female 10.99%

male 89.01%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a mechanical laboratory technician

  1. Explore mechanical laboratory technician education requirements

    Most common mechanical laboratory technician degrees

    Associate

    40.4 %

    Bachelor's

    33.9 %

    High School Diploma

    10.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific mechanical laboratory technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Test Equipment14.67%
    Test Results13.36%
    Hand Tools12.60%
    CNC7.34%
    Data Collection7.18%
  3. Complete relevant mechanical laboratory technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mechanical laboratory technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mechanical laboratory technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mechanical laboratory technician resumes.
  4. Research mechanical laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

    • Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
    • Assemble, test, troubleshoot and inspect precision hydraulic components for commercial and military aviation
    • Maintain equipment for normal operation and troubleshoot during mechanical failure.
    • Design and manufacturing of research relate hardware by using solid model computer programs and advance CNC machinery.
  5. Prepare your mechanical laboratory technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mechanical laboratory technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a mechanical laboratory technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable mechanical laboratory technician resume templates

    Build a professional mechanical laboratory technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your mechanical laboratory technician resume.
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Mechanical Laboratory Technician Resume
  6. Apply for mechanical laboratory technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a mechanical laboratory technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first mechanical laboratory technician job

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Average mechanical laboratory technician salary

The average mechanical laboratory technician salary in the United States is $43,949 per year or $21 per hour. Mechanical laboratory technician salaries range between $33,000 and $58,000 per year.

Average mechanical laboratory technician salary
$43,949 Yearly
$21.13 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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