All careersEngineering & science

Mechatronics Technician

$73,900
median / year
$47,840 – $109,890
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Install and maintain automated systems that combine mechanics, electronics, sensors, and computer controls.

You may also see this posted as: Electro-Mechanic, Electromechanical Technician (EM Technician), Electronics Technician (Electronics Tech), Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech), Automation Technician (Automation Tech), Electromechanical Assembler (EM Assembler).

Where you work

Factories, engineering labs, and equipment service sites.

The hours

Usually full-time; shift and on-call work may occur.

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • Test performance of electromechanical assemblies, using test instruments such as oscilloscopes, electronic voltmeters, or bridges.
  • Install or program computer hardware or machine or instrumentation software in microprocessor-based systems.
  • Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders to determine methods and sequences of assembly.
  • Modify, maintain, or repair electrical, electronic, or mechanical components, equipment, or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Inspect parts for surface defects.

Good fit if you like…

Realistic

working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

O*NET job zone 3 of 5

Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.

Work styles that matter most

Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessIntellectual Curiosity

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Autodesk AutoCADC++Dassault Systemes SolidWorksESRI ArcGIS softwareLinuxMicrosoft Access

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$73,900
per year
Hourly median
$35.53
per hour
What most earn
$47,840–$109,890
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~1,300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+1.1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
15,520
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 1.5% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Associate degree

Training path: Associate degree in mechatronics or electro-mechanical technology.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

AutomationElectronicsMechanical systemsTroubleshooting

The honest take

Maintains the combined mechanical, electrical, and computer-controlled systems used in automation and robotics.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-3024. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.