A mechanical technician is a professional responsible for the creation and customization of mechanical systems, machinery, and products. Their duties include assisting with the design of mechanical systems, conducting repairs and maintenance of mechanical equipment, and installing new mechanical components into machinery or on facility grounds. Furthermore, the mechanical technician is responsible for developing and implementing maintenance plans, preparing and submitting technical documents and reports, bettering the efficacy and productivity of mechanical tools, and training and assisting others in the operation of said equipment.
How To Become a Mechanical Technician
To become a mechanical technician, you usually need a associate degree and 2-4 years of experience. The most common jobs before becoming a mechanical technician are mechanic, maintenance technician, and technician. Hiring managers expect a mechanical technician to have soft skills such as communication skills, creativity, and detail oriented.
The national average salary for mechanical technicians is $51,367, but with the right certifications and experience, they can make up to $68,000. Getting a certification as a EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) will help you to earn more as a mechanical technician.
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 1,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
How to become a Mechanical Technician in 6 steps:
- Step 1: Explore mechanical technician education
- Step 2: Develop mechanical technician skills
- Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
- Step 4: Get mechanical technician certifications
- Step 5: Research mechanical technician duties
- Step 6: Prepare your resume
Key Steps To Become a Mechanical Technician
Explore Mechanical Technician Education
If you're interested in becoming a mechanical technician, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 20.6% of mechanical technicians have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 1.7% of mechanical technicians have master's degrees. Even though some mechanical technicians have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a mechanical technician. When we researched the most common majors for a mechanical technician, we found that they most commonly have electrical engineering, automotive technology and electrical engineering technology.
Mechanical Technician Major Percentages Electrical Engineering 17.50% Automotive Technology 15.10% Electrical Engineering Technology 12.70% Mechanical Engineering 7.90% Other Degrees 47.00% Develop Mechanical Technician Skills
It'll be a good idea to develop mechanical technician skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in mechanical technician job descriptions:
Skills Percentages Preventive Maintenance 14.19% Hand Tools 9.70% Electro-mechanical 5.23% Mechanical Equipment 3.89% PLC 3.49% Complete Relevent Training/Internship
Mechanical technicians spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new mechanical technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a mechanical technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mechanical technician resumes.
Average Amount Of Time At Training
Get Mechanical Technician Certifications
Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for mechanical technicians. The most common certification is EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA), but OSHA Safety Certificate is also frequently seen in mechanical technicians resumes.
- EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA)
- OSHA Safety Certificate
- Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma)
- Mechanical Pipeline Technician (MPT_03)
- Industrial Electronics (IND)
- Certified Welding Engineer
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Certified Auto Glass Technician (AGT)
Research Mechanical Technician Duties
When you decide to become a mechanical technician, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most mechanical technician jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:
- Dispatch work accordingly, manage and assist team members with more complex repairs and diagnosis.
- Operate heavy equipment including cranes, heavy loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, and tractors.
- Service motor relate equipment such as AC/DC drives, motor starters, power distribution equipment, and cranes and hoists.
- Wire DC breaker/AC breaker panels.
- Repair and wiring of DC electrical motors.
- Test ac induction, brushless, brush, stepper motors.
Prepare Your Resume
Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Mechanical Technician Resume templates
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 10+ resume templates to create your Mechanical Technician resume.Apply For a Mechanical Technician Job
Mechanical Technician Jobs
Average Salary for a Mechanical Technician
Mechanical Technicians in America make an average salary of $51,367 per year or $25 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $68,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $38,000 per year.
Average Mechanical Technician Salary
$51,367Â Yearly$24.70 hourly
What Am I Worth?
