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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Part of Manufacturing, in the Manufacturing Production Process Development pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 17-3027.00

What the work is

Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

On a typical day

  • Draft detail drawing or sketch for drafting room completion or to request parts fabrication by machine, sheet or wood shops.
  • Review project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign.
  • Review project instructions and specifications to identify, modify and plan requirements fabrication, assembly and testing.
  • Set up and conduct tests of complete units and components under operational conditions to investigate proposals for improving equipment performance.
  • Analyze test results in relation to design or rated specifications and test objectives, and modify or adjust equipment to meet specifications.
  • Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.

What it pays

$68,540
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $47,400
Experienced workers reach $110,530
  1. $47k10th
  2. $53k25th
  3. $69kMedian
  4. $85k75th
  5. $111k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $47,400, 25th $53,100, Median $68,540, 75th $85,000, 90th $110,530

About 70 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+13.1%

employment change in the Alamo region, 99 to 112 jobs · U.S. 0%

9

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 3,200

99

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 38,300

Typical entry education: Associate's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension4.3
  2. Active Listening3.9
  3. Critical Thinking3.9
  4. Speaking3.8
  5. Complex Problem Solving3.5
  6. Writing3.6
  7. Operations Monitoring3.3
  8. Judgment and Decision Making3.4

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less8%
  2. Certificate33%
  3. Some college9%
  4. Associate degree14%
  5. Bachelor's degree37%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • St. Philip's
  1. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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