← All 785 jobsFile 17-3027
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Lightly edited
AI performs some of this work. Most of it still needs a person. The BLS expects 1.3% more of these jobs by 2035, slower than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #279 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +1.3% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $74,510 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 36,900 in the US, with about 3,100 openings a year
The work, 28 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
AI helps with this: Test performance of equipment or systems10%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,100 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities8%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Test characteristics of materials or products7%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Read documents or materials to inform work processes7%
AI performed this in about 1 in 214 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze performance of systems or equipment6%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 563 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI helps with this: Create visual designs or displays6%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 78 conversations, and it got them there 40% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Design industrial systems or equipment5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Operate industrial processing or production equipment3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Inspect completed work or finished products3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Install commercial or production equipment3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Assemble equipment or components3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Explain technical details of products or services3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 43 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI helps with this: Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment3%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,196 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
AI helps with this: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 903 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Determine resource needs of projects or operations2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,590 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Purchase goods or services2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 214 conversations, and it got them there 91% of the time.
AI helps with this: Develop models of systems, processes, or products2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 648 conversations, and it got them there 75% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
Still yours: Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Research technology designs or applications2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 149 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
Still yours: Evaluate green technologies or processes2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Schedule operational activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,066 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
Still yours: Estimate project development or operational costs1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 653 conversations, and it got them there 81% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 101 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 3,100 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 46% of the workEngineering Technologists and Technicians14% AI does, against 25% here+2.8% by 2035 · $78,350 · Associate’s degree
- Shares 38% of the workElectrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians17% AI does, against 25% here+2.4% by 2035 · $78,190 · Associate’s degree
- Shares 33% of the workElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay13% AI does, against 25% here+9.7% by 2035 · $103,020 · Postsecondary certificate
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.23, higher than 75% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 17-3027 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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