How to Become a Mechanical Technician
What is a Mechanical Technician
Primarily, mechanical technicians are also known as mechanical engineering technicians or assistant mechanical engineers. They help them in optimizing the performance of mechanical products, machinery, and equipment. They help to design mechanical products, evaluate performance results, and maintain mechanical equipment and machinery.
Furthermore, they keep records of processes and maintain mechanical service documentation. Also, they troubleshoot and repair mechanical malfunctions and breakdowns and adjust machinery and equipment settings to improve efficiency. Mechanical technicians are employed in the electrical, manufacturing, transportation, or industrial industries.
To become a mechanical technician, you need an associate's degree in mechanical engineering technology or a similar discipline. You will need a minimum of two years of experience in a related industry. You must be proficient in mechanical design and diagnostic testing software. For success, you need analytical, communication, critical thinking, organization, time management, and problem-solving skills. These experts earn around $51,922 yearly. Their salary varies between $34,000 and $80,000.
What Does a Mechanical Technician Do
Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.
How To Become a Mechanical Technician
Most employers prefer to hire candidates with associate’s degrees or other postsecondary training in mechanical engineering technology. Prospective engineering technicians should take as many science and math courses as possible while in high school.
EducationMechanical engineering technicians typically need an associate’s degree or a certificate from a community college or vocational–technical school. Community colleges offer programs similar to those in technical institutes but include more theory-based and liberal arts coursework and programs. Community colleges typically award an associate’s degree. Vocational–technical schools include postsecondary public institutions that emphasize training needed by local employers. Students who complete these programs typically receive a diploma or certificate.
ABET accredits associate’s programs in relevant fields of study, such as mechanical engineering technology.
Completing an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering technology opens the way to studying for a bachelor’s degree.
High school students interested in becoming mechanical engineering technicians should take classes in math, science, and computer skills. Courses that help students develop skills working with their hands also are valuable, because these technicians build what mechanical engineers design.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Mechanical engineering technicians must be able to clearly understand and follow instructions or, if they do not understand, ask their supervisors to explain. They must be able to clearly explain, both orally and in writing, the need for changes in designs or test procedures.
Creativity. Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers bring their plans and designs to life. Doing so often requires helping the engineer to overcome problems that might not have been anticipated.
Detail oriented. Mechanical engineering technicians must make precise measurements and keep accurate records for mechanical engineers.
Math skills. Mechanical engineering technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.
Mechanical skills. Mechanical engineering technicians must apply theory and instructions from engineers by making new components for industrial machinery or equipment. They may need to be able to operate machinery such as drill presses, grinders, and engine lathes.
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Mechanical Technician Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of Maintenance Technician you might progress to a role such as Electrician eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title Maintenance Director.
Mechanical Technician Jobs You Might Like
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Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the rights job to get there.
Average Salary for a Mechanical Technician
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12 Mechanical Technician Resume Examples
Build a professional mechanical technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 12+ resume templates to create your mechanical technician resume.
Eugene Tucker Mechanical Technician |
Beverly Webb Mechanical Technician Experience Mechanical Technician2015 - Present IND MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTORS•Murfreesboro, TN
Mechanical Engineering Technologist2011 - 2015 Emerson Electric Co•Murfreesboro, TN
Diagnostic Technician2006 - 2007 Sears Holdings•North Atlanta, GA
Skills CADOshaNew EquipmentProper OperationFinal InspectionControl SystemsElectrical SystemsService CallsDNAMechanical Equipment Education Doctoral Degree Mechanical Engineering Technology2008 - 2011 Middle Tennessee State University•Murfreesboro, TN Master's Degree Aerospace Engineering2007 - 2008 Middle Tennessee State University•Murfreesboro, TN Bachelor's Degree Aerospace Engineering2003 - 2006 Georgia Institute of Technology•North Atlanta, GA |
Learn How To Write a Mechanical Technician Resume
At Zippia, we went through countless Mechanical Technician resumes and compiled some information about how to optimize them. Here are some suggestions based on what we found, divided by the individual sections of the resume itself.
View Mechanical Technician Resume Examples And TemplatesAnd if you’re looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:
Choose From 10+ Customizable Mechanical Technician Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Mechanical Technician templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Mechanical Technician resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Mechanical Technician Demographics
Mechanical Technician Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among Mechanical Technicians, 5.6% of them are women, while 94.4% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among Mechanical Technicians is White, which makes up 63.9% of all Mechanical Technicians.
- The most common foreign language among Mechanical Technicians is Spanish at 59.7%.
Find the best Mechanical Technician job for you
Mechanical Technician Jobs You Might Like
- High Paying Mechanical Technician Jobs - $70K and Up
- Work From Home Mechanical Technician Jobs
- Entry Level Mechanical Technician Jobs
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- Actively Hiring
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Top Colleges for Mechanical Technicians
1. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
2. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM • Private
3. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
6. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY • Private
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
8. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
10. Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA • Private
Find the best Mechanical Technician job for you
Mechanical Technician Jobs You Might Like
- High Paying Mechanical Technician Jobs - $70K and Up
- Work From Home Mechanical Technician Jobs
- Entry Level Mechanical Technician Jobs
- Part Time Mechanical Technician Jobs
- Actively Hiring
- No Degree Mechanical Technician Jobs
Online Courses For Mechanical Technician That You May Like
Learn about the diesel engine! Ideal for Automotive Engineering and Automobile Engineering!...
Master the fundamentals of mechanics, statics and applied physics and then solve real-world mechanics problems...
Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...
Top Skills For a Mechanical Technician
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 15.0% of Mechanical Technicians listed Preventive Maintenance on their resume, but soft skills such as Communication skills and Creativity are important as well.
Best States For a Mechanical Technician
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a Mechanical Technician. The best states for people in this position are West Virginia, California, New Mexico, and Illinois. Mechanical Technicians make the most in West Virginia with an average salary of $61,422. Whereas in California and New Mexico, they would average $60,844 and $59,922, respectively. While Mechanical Technicians would only make an average of $59,896 in Illinois, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Indiana
$56,212
Avg. Salary
2. Illinois
$59,896
Avg. Salary
3. West Virginia
$61,422
Avg. Salary
How Do Mechanical Technician Rate Their Jobs?
Mechanical Technician Videos
Becoming a Mechanical Technician FAQs
How long does it take to become a mechanical technician?
It typically takes two to four years to become a mechanical technician. This is because a career as a mechanical technician will require an associate degree. However, employers may prefer mechanical technicians with bachelor's-level training in mechanical technology.
How much does a mechanical technician make?
A mechanical technician makes just over $56,000 a year. The average hourly wage for a mechanical technician is just under $23 per hour.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years a person has spent in the profession.
Is a mechanical technician a mechanic?
A mechanical technician can be a mechanic, but these roles are not identical. While both roles are involved in mechanical machinery maintenance, mechanics typically specialize in one kind of mechanical maintenance while mechanical technicians have broader knowledge.
What is the difference between a mechanical engineer and a mechanical technician?
The difference between a mechanical engineer and a mechanical technician is their level of education and focus of the role. Though these positions can be similar, some may use the terms mechanical engineer and mechanical technician interchangeably. They do not refer to the same position.