What Electro-mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians Do About this section
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians install, repair, upgrade, and test electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems.
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuitry. They operate, test, and maintain unmanned, automated, robotic, or electromechanical equipment.
Duties
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians typically do the following:
Read blueprints, schematics, and diagrams to determine the method and sequence of assembly of a machine or a piece of equipment
Verify dimensions of parts, using precision measuring instruments
Operate metalworking machines to make housings, fittings, and fixtures
Inspect parts for surface defects
Repair and calibrate hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies
Use instruments to test the performance of electromechanical assemblies
Use soldering equipment and handtools to install electronic parts and hardware
Operate, test, or maintain robotic equipment
Analyze and record test results
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians test and operate machines in factories and at other worksites. They also document the tests they performed and analyze and record the results of those tests.
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians install, maintain, and repair automated machinery and computer-controlled mechanical systems in industrial settings.
They also test, operate, or maintain robotic equipment at worksites. This equipment may include unmanned submarines, aircraft, or similar types of equipment for uses that include oil drilling, deep-ocean exploration, or hazardous-waste removal.
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians test the performance of electro-mechanical assemblies, using test instruments.
Electro-mechanical technologists and technicians held about 12,100 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of electro-mechanical technologists and technicians were as follows:
Engineering services
10%
Machinery manufacturing
9
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
6
Transportation equipment manufacturing
5
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
3
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians work with electrical engineers and mechanical engineers. They work primarily in manufacturing industries, including those of computer and electronic products and of machinery, and in professional, scientific, and technical services. They often work both at production sites and in offices.
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians are sometimes exposed to hazards from equipment or toxic materials. However, incidents are rare as long as workers follow safety procedures.
Work Schedules
Most electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
How to Become an Electro-mechanical or Mechatronic Technologist or Technician About this section
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians typically need either an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate.
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians typically need either an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate.
Education
Associate’s degree programs and postsecondary certificates for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians are offered at vocational–technical schools and community colleges.
Employers may prefer to hire graduates of programs accredited by an organization such as ABET. Associate’s degree programs usually include courses in subjects such as algebra, trigonometry, and sciences. Depending on the program, students may have the option of concentrating in a field such as electromechanics, mechatronics, or industrial maintenance.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must be able to follow instructions from engineers. They also need to clearly convey problems to engineers.
Detail oriented. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must take and record the precise measurements that engineers need.
Dexterity. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must be adept in using handtools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to create electronic components.
Logical-thinking skills. To carry out engineers’ designs, inspect designs for quality control, and assemble prototypes, electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must follow a specific sequence or a set of rules.
Math skills. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their tasks.
Mechanical skills. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must create components for industrial machinery or equipment. They must be able to operate equipment such as drill presses, grinders, and engine lathes.
Problem-solving skills. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must be able to identify and fix problems that arise with engineering designs and prototypes.
Writing skills. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians must write clear, well-organized reports that describe onsite construction, testing results, and problems they found in carrying out designs.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians may earn optional certification to demonstrate professional competence.
The International Society of Automation offers the Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) and Certified Automation Professional (CAP) designations. Both require a written exam, and recertification is required after a specified number of years.
Electro-mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Median annual wages, May 2021
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
$60,360
Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians
$60,290
Total, all occupations
$45,760
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
The median annual wage for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians was $60,360 in May 2021.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,650, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,070.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for electro-mechanical technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
$61,030
Transportation equipment manufacturing
60,910
Machinery manufacturing
60,220
Engineering services
49,260
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
47,690
Most electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Electro-mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Total, all occupations
5%
Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians
0%
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
-4%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment of electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians is projected to decline 4 percent from 2021 to 2031.
Despite declining employment, about 1,100 openings for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Many of these technologists and technicians are employed in manufacturing industries, for which employment projections vary. Automation in manufacturing could affect this occupation in both positive and negative ways. While automation may replace certain responsibilities, electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians will still be needed to operate and maintain the robotic equipment.
Employment projections data for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians, 2021-31
Occupational Title
SOC Code
Employment, 2021
Projected Employment, 2031
Change, 2021-31
Employment by Industry
Percent
Numeric
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians