What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $74,510 a year — the middle 80% land between $48,400 and $106,050. About 36,190 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$74,510typical pay / year
36,190people in this work
$106,050+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record2
Record test procedures and results
+After each callout, complete the test procedure sheet noting sample ID, instrument used, start and stop…
Record test procedures and results
+After each callout, complete the test procedure sheet noting sample ID, instrument used, start and stop times, any deviations from procedure, attach sensor readouts, and submit the completed record to supervisor Lee before leaving shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordData acquisitionESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Inspect automotive systems and components regularly
+Perform the routine inspection on Vehicle 372 at 10:00: check brakes, suspension bushings, wiring harness…
Inspect automotive systems and components regularly
+Perform the routine inspection on Vehicle 372 at 10:00: check brakes, suspension bushings, wiring harness connections, fluid levels, and document any wear or faults on the inspection form with photos, then notify maintenance planner Jorge of parts needed.
The tools that do the workdiagnosticMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Analysing2
Operate equipment used in motor vehicles
+Operate the vehicle-mounted sampling rig on Truck 12 for the downtown route, verify pump pressures and sensor…
Operate equipment used in motor vehicles
+Operate the vehicle-mounted sampling rig on Truck 12 for the downtown route, verify pump pressures and sensor outputs meet the pre-run checklist, troubleshoot any fault codes, and log run-time data and corrective actions before shift end.
The tools that do the workA&D Technology iTestData acquisitionESCOO*NET
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Review blueprints and designs to determine test specifications and procedures
+Study the component blueprints for Control Valve Assembly CV-7, extract required sampling points, set test…
Review blueprints and designs to determine test specifications and procedures
+Study the component blueprints for Control Valve Assembly CV-7, extract required sampling points, set test pressures and tolerances, and write a step-by-step procedure so the tech on evening shift can reproduce the test.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCAD MechanicalMicrosoft WordESCOO*NET
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The daily work16
Use a computer
+Log into the test station, open the daily sample manifest, verify IDs and collection times against the…
Use a computer
+Log into the test station, open the daily sample manifest, verify IDs and collection times against the chain-of-custody, flag any missing entries, and generate the summary spreadsheet for shift handover by 07:00 tomorrow.
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Liaise with engineers
+Call lead engineer Marco Ruiz, describe the anomalous sample contamination in bay C, share the measured…
Liaise with engineers
+Call lead engineer Marco Ruiz, describe the anomalous sample contamination in bay C, share the measured readings and photos, ask which collection point to isolate next, and schedule a joint inspection tomorrow at 09:00.
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Read engineering drawings
+Pull the latest assembly drawing for test fixture A12, confirm the probe locations and tolerances match the…
Read engineering drawings
+Pull the latest assembly drawing for test fixture A12, confirm the probe locations and tolerances match the sampling procedure, note any deviations on the drawing, and email the marked copy to quality for approval before next run.
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CAE software
+Run the simulation script on the component load case, record the strain-time outputs for the three sampling…
CAE software
+Run the simulation script on the component load case, record the strain-time outputs for the three sampling nodes, compare against the acceptance limits, and save the results table to the project folder for engineer review.
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Engineering principles
+Draft a one-page note explaining why the current sampling frequency meets fatigue life calculations,…
Engineering principles
+Draft a one-page note explaining why the current sampling frequency meets fatigue life calculations, reference the material properties and load cycles, and send it to engineering with a request for sign-off by Friday.
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Vehicle manufacturing process
+Walk the vehicle assembly line with the process map, record where samples are taken, note any deviations from…
Vehicle manufacturing process
+Walk the vehicle assembly line with the process map, record where samples are taken, note any deviations from specified torque and weld parameters, photograph instances and compile a corrective action list for production by end of day.
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Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations.
+Review the last three weeks of field test logs and failure photos, then write a one-page recommendation to…
Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations.
+Review the last three weeks of field test logs and failure photos, then write a one-page recommendation to change the sample nozzle material and wall thickness with supporting test numbers and estimated cost impact for the design review on Friday.
The tools that do the workData acquisitionMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.
+Build or modify a prototype mounting fixture on the bench so the sampler fits the new clamp, document…
Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.
+Build or modify a prototype mounting fixture on the bench so the sampler fits the new clamp, document dimensions and fastener types, and hand the updated part and a one-sheet fabrication note to fabrication by Wednesday morning.
The tools that do the workAutodesk InventorO*NET
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Collaborate with engineers to improve vehicle designs
+Join the Tuesday engineering review with the recent field logs, show where the sampler interferes with the…
Collaborate with engineers to improve vehicle designs
+Join the Tuesday engineering review with the recent field logs, show where the sampler interferes with the vehicle harness, propose two routing changes and one mounting change, and record engineer decisions in the meeting minutes.
The tools that do the workIBM Notesjob descriptions
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Make recommendations for changes
+Summarise recurring failure modes from the past month, recommend three prioritized design changes with…
Make recommendations for changes
+Summarise recurring failure modes from the past month, recommend three prioritized design changes with expected risk reduction and rough cost, and send the summary to Lead Engineer Maria Salazar and Procurement by Thursday COB.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordESCO
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Material mechanics
+Run a material stress check on the suspect sample holder using the standard test setup, record yield and…
Material mechanics
+Run a material stress check on the suspect sample holder using the standard test setup, record yield and elongation values, compare them to spec, and file the results to the project folder with pass/fail flag before end of shift.
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Read standard blueprints
+Take the new assembly drawing, verify all dimensions and tolerances against the standard blueprint symbols,…
Read standard blueprints
+Take the new assembly drawing, verify all dimensions and tolerances against the standard blueprint symbols, note any discrepancies or missing tolerances, and return the annotated drawing to Drafting by noon.
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Multimedia systems
+Set up the multimedia test rig, connect the audio, video and sensor feeds, run the prescribed capture…
Multimedia systems
+Set up the multimedia test rig, connect the audio, video and sensor feeds, run the prescribed capture sequence for thirty minutes, save the raw files with station and sample IDs, and flag any sync or signal dropouts for engineering review.
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ICT software specifications
+Draft the ICT software requirements document describing required interface, data formats, sampling rates, and…
ICT software specifications
+Draft the ICT software requirements document describing required interface, data formats, sampling rates, and error logging for the lab's sample readers, attach current failure logs, and send to Priya in ICT and Marcus in QA for comments by Thursday COB.
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Recommend product improvements
+Inspect the current sampling kit, list three recurring issues with the cap, filter seal and transport case,…
Recommend product improvements
+Inspect the current sampling kit, list three recurring issues with the cap, filter seal and transport case, propose two concrete design changes for each issue with sketch notes and estimated material impacts, then email the recommendations to engineering and procurement.
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Mechanics of motor vehicles
+Run a vehicle mechanical check: record engine mount play, brake pedal free travel, fluid levels and a short…
Mechanics of motor vehicles
+Run a vehicle mechanical check: record engine mount play, brake pedal free travel, fluid levels and a short road test report, note any abnormal noises or vibrations with time stamps, and send the completed inspection sheet to Fleet Manager Raj by end of day.
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses