What does a Mechanical Technician do?
The primary job of mechanical technicians is to help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices such as machines and engines. They typically do varied tasks, including evaluating design sketches for new and changing tools, discussing changes with colleagues, and reviewing blueprints and instructions for projects. As a mechanical technician, you are also responsible for estimating equipment life, plant space, and labor costs. To become successful in this role, you need to have an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology, excellent communication skills, and mechanical skills.
Mechanical technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real mechanical technician resumes:
- 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.
- Work directly with engineering and to NASA specifications work orders.
- Maintain and operate mills, laths surface grinders for minor mold repair.
- Design and modele piping systems, dust collection and ventilation ducting systems.
- Perform BOM review, approval, and modification to resolve field issues.
- Install walk ways, ladders, platforms and man ways up to main deck.
- Used AutoCAD for design and getting experimental parts make by inside and outside vendors.
- Maintain material handling systems such as blenders, grinders, compressors and water chiller systems.
- Conduct rapid prototyping with Fortus machine for form, fit and function evaluation of polymer parts
- Retrofit old and outdate controls to DDC controls and calibrate and upgrade existing pneumatic controls systems.
Mechanical technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Mechanical Technicians are proficient in Preventive Maintenance, Hand Tools, and Electro-mechanical. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Creativity, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Mechanical Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Preventive Maintenance, 14%
Scheduled and performed regular predictive/preventive maintenance inspections on equipment as well as provided support by managing inventory and customer service calls.
- Hand Tools, 10%
92126Created and or modified material surfaces and assembled substructures and performed mechanical assembly using various hand tools.
- Electro-mechanical, 5%
Completed the company sponsored Electro-Mechanical assessment and improvement program implemented by an external training organization.
- Mechanical Equipment, 4%
Perform functional testing, troubleshooting, and repair of electronic and mechanical equipment used in photo finishing processing.
- PLC, 3%
Program, maintain and troubleshoot PLC controlled automatic production machinery.
- Mechanical Systems, 3%
Performed hook-ups of water, hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical systems to ensure proper functionality and reliability.
"preventive maintenance," "hand tools," and "electro-mechanical" are among the most common skills that mechanical technicians use at work. You can find even more mechanical technician responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a mechanical technician to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineering technologists and technicians must be able to clearly explain, both orally and in writing, the need for changes in designs or test procedures." Additionally, a mechanical technician resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "charged with position requiring communication between engineering and manufacturing testing and of downhole mwd electro-mechanical (nuclear devices). "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of mechanical technicians is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday mechanical technician duties, as "mechanical engineering technologists and technicians must make precise measurements and keep accurate records for mechanical engineers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained detailed documentation complying with company's standards as well as iso 9001 standards. "
Math skills. A big part of what mechanical technicians do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to mechanical technician responsibilities because "mechanical engineering technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical mechanical technician tasks: "document work tasks, project hours, material, ecos, and calculate math functions"
Mechanical skills. A commonly-found skill in mechanical technician job descriptions, "mechanical skills" is essential to what mechanical technicians do. Mechanical technician responsibilities rely on this skill because "mechanical engineering technologists and technicians must apply theory and instructions from engineers by making new components for industrial machinery or equipment." You can also see how mechanical technician duties rely on mechanical skills in this resume example: "maintain day to day operations of steam boiler systems, air compressors, chillers, and mechanical machinery. "
The three companies that hire the most mechanical technicians are:
- TravelCenters of America330 mechanical technicians jobs
- Foley Equipment49 mechanical technicians jobs
- DCP Midstream
34 mechanical technicians jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable mechanical technician resume templates
Build a professional mechanical technician resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your mechanical technician resume.
Compare different mechanical technicians
Mechanical technician vs. Industrial mechanic
An industrial mechanic maintains and repairs equipment and any other industrial types of machinery in a factory. Industrial mechanics manage the operation of machinery like production machinery, packaging equipment, and conveying systems. They need to use protective equipment like safety glasses and hardhats as well as follow safety precautions during operations. It is their responsibility to make sure that all industrial machines function well through preventive maintenance service and troubleshooting.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a mechanical technician are more likely to require skills like "work ethic," "electro-mechanical," "first hand," and "osha." On the other hand, a job as an industrial mechanic requires skills like "production machines," "safety standards," "equipment maintenance," and "mechanical devices." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Industrial mechanics tend to make the most money working in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $56,878. In contrast, mechanical technicians make the biggest average salary, $57,151, in the energy industry.The education levels that industrial mechanics earn slightly differ from mechanical technicians. In particular, industrial mechanics are 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a mechanical technician. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mechanical technician vs. Instrument technician apprentice
An instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles. Furthermore, there are also instances where one may liaise with clients to discuss the extent of damage or repairs, building positive relationships in the process to secure a client base.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real mechanical technician resumes. While mechanical technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "preventive maintenance," "electro-mechanical," "mechanical equipment," and "first hand," instrument technician apprentices use skills like "customer satisfaction," "diagnosis," "cleanliness," and "customer vehicles."
On average, instrument technician apprentices earn a lower salary than mechanical technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, instrument technician apprentices earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $38,671. Whereas mechanical technicians have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $57,151.instrument technician apprentices earn similar levels of education than mechanical technicians in general. They're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mechanical technician vs. Mechanical spreader operator
A mechanical spreader operators manage and operate all equipment in various industries where they perform their jobs. The operators work as general mechanics in building HVAC, general building maintenance, and pump station operations. They test electro-mechanical subsystems for operational reliability and circuit integrity. Their job includes promoting quality assurance and performance improvement programs within the organization. Also, they perform an energy audit to improve the efficiency of HVAC energy.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, mechanical technicians are more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "electro-mechanical," "first hand," and "osha." But a mechanical spreader operator is more likely to have skills like "safety procedures," "repair equipment," "plant operations," and "ppe."
Mechanical spreader operators earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $48,520. Comparatively, mechanical technicians have the highest earning potential in the energy industry, with an average salary of $57,151.When it comes to education, mechanical spreader operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to mechanical technicians. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Mechanical technician vs. Mechanical assembler
Mechanical assemblers are individuals who fabricate or assemble mechanical pieces, products, or parts. They are knowledgeable about assembly instructions as well as their interpretations. Among their primary responsibilities are to read the list of mechanical components, identify all present interests, and assemble tools. They should know how to read and interpret sketches and blueprints. It is also essential for every assembler to listen to the directions given by their supervisors or any other head.
Types of mechanical technician
Updated January 8, 2025
