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Major · Engineering Technology

Mechatronics and automation training for electromechanical systems and robotics

Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician (CIP 15.0403) trains you to support engineers in developing and testing automated, servomechanical, and electromechanical systems — robotics, automation, mechatronics. About 1,104 students complete it across 122 institutions; bachelor’s grads earn $86,002, associate’s grads $72,871.

Schools offering
122
Annual completions
1,104
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$76k

About this major

Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician (CIP 15.0403) trains you to apply engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers developing and testing automated, servomechanical, and electromechanical systems. The CIP definition covers prototype testing, manufacturing and operational testing, systems analysis and maintenance procedures, and report preparation. In practice, this is the mechatronics and industrial-automation track within engineering technology — combining electrical fundamentals (DC and AC circuits, instrumentation, motor controls), mechanical fundamentals (statics, dynamics, machine elements, fluid power), electronics and digital systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial robotics, sensors and transducers, and increasingly software components for cyber-physical systems. Most programs include extensive lab time on real automation equipment.

The major fits students drawn to hands-on integrated systems work — robots, automated production lines, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, automotive assembly, EV battery production, warehouse fulfillment automation — who want a fast credentialing pathway into a real working role. It rewards strong mechanical aptitude paired with comfort in electrical and electronic troubleshooting, methodical problem-solving across multiple system layers, and patience for the kind of multi-day commissioning work that industrial automation actually involves. Day-to-day at the technician level mixes equipment troubleshooting, PLC programming and modification, sensor calibration, mechanical adjustment and alignment, and the documentation work that keeps automated systems running.

One grounded observation about scale and labor-market positioning: 1,104 students complete this CIP across 122 institutions, with bachelor’s grads earning $86,002 and associate’s grads $72,871 — strong wages at both levels and a meaningful gap that reflects role differentiation. Texas A&M (83 bachelor’s) anchors the bachelor’s producer side, with Penn State Berks (27) and Penn State Altoona (26) feeding regional industry hiring. The associate’s side concentrates at community colleges and technical schools (James Rhodes State 38, Bakersfield 35, Motlow State 34, Texas State Technical 34, Columbus State 31). The packet’s tracked SOCs include Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians ($70,760, 1.1% growth) and Electrical and electronics drafters ($73,720, -5.6% growth — the latter declining as automation displaces manual drafting work, even as that same automation creates structural demand for mechatronics talent to install, commission, and maintain). Strong industry sectors include semiconductor manufacturing, automotive and EV battery production, aerospace, medical device, food and beverage processing, and warehouse automation.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Electrical and electronics drafters $74k -5.6% Associate's degree
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians $71k +1.1% Associate's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$76k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$73k

Bachelor's

$86k

Who this major is for

Good signs this major fits: you have strong mechanical aptitude paired with comfort in electrical and electronic troubleshooting; you’re drawn to integrated systems work — robots, automated production lines, semiconductor equipment, EV battery manufacturing, warehouse automation — and want a fast credentialing pathway into a real working role; you have patience for the kind of multi-day commissioning and integration work industrial automation actually involves; you’re considering whether to stop at the associate’s for technician roles paying $72,871 or continue to the bachelor’s for automation/controls engineer roles paying $86,002 with higher mid-career ceilings; and you’re drawn to growing industrial sectors (semiconductors, EVs, aerospace, medical device, warehouse automation) where mechatronics demand is structurally strong.

Reasons to pause: a full engineering degree (electrical, mechanical, or robotics engineering — CIP 14.x) opens design, R&D, and capital-equipment specification roles that engineering-technology graduates typically don’t reach without substantial additional credentials. The Electrical drafters SOC projects -5.6% growth, signaling that traditional CAD-drafting roles are compressing under automation; the value transfers to integration and commissioning work, which programs vary in how well they cover. The closely related Electrical Engineering Technology (CIP 15.0303, 3,682 completions) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (CIP 15.0805, 2,735 completions) are larger sibling credentials that may signal differently to specific employers — verify which CIP your target firms actually recruit from. School-specific program quality varies considerably across the 122 institutions; verify which automation equipment, PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), and robotics manufacturers (FANUC, ABB, KUKA) the program covers before enrolling.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX 0 83 83
James A. Rhodes State College Lima, OH 38 0 38
Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA 22 13 35
Motlow State Community College Tullahoma, TN 34 0 34
Texas State Technical College Waco, TX 34 0 34
Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH 31 0 31
North Central State College Mansfield, OH 30 0 30
Spokane Community College Spokane, WA 29 0 29
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks Reading, PA 0 27 27
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Altoona, PA 0 26 26
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician

3,682 completions/yr

Construction Engineering Technology/Technician

3,657 completions/yr

Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician

2,735 completions/yr

Industrial Technology/Technician

1,933 completions/yr

Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician

1,695 completions/yr

Chemical Technology/Technician

1,095 completions/yr

Instrumentation Technology/Technician

1,036 completions/yr

Computer Engineering Technology/Technician

892 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What does this major actually train you to do?
The CIP centers on applying engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers developing and testing electromechanical systems — combining electrical, electronic, mechanical, and increasingly software components. Coursework typically covers electrical fundamentals (DC and AC circuits, instrumentation), mechanical fundamentals (statics, dynamics, machine elements), electronics and digital systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial automation, robotics, sensors and transducers, fluid power (hydraulics and pneumatics), CAD, and prototype testing. Most programs include extensive lab time on real automation equipment, robot arms, PLC trainers, and mechatronics test stands.
How does this differ from electrical or mechanical engineering technology?
Electromechanical/Mechatronics (15.0403) is the integrated track combining electrical and mechanical systems with industrial automation focus. Mechanical Engineering Technology (15.0805, 2,735 completions) is more mechanical-systems-focused. Electrical Engineering Technology (15.0303, 3,682 completions) is more electrical-and-electronics-focused. Manufacturing Engineering Technology (15.0613, 1,695 completions) is closely related but more production-floor-process-focused. The labor market values these similarly for technician roles; the integrated electromechanical track positions strongest for automation, robotics, and mechatronics-specific employer hiring.
What jobs do graduates land?
The packet names two SOCs: Electrical and electronics drafters ($73,720, -5.6% growth, associate’s entry — the negative growth signals automation pressure on traditional drafting) and Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians ($70,760, 1.1% growth, associate’s entry). Realistic destinations include automation technician at manufacturing plants, robotics integration specialist at system integrators, mechatronics technician at automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, or medical-device employers, controls technician on automated production lines, field service engineer for industrial-equipment manufacturers, and PLC programming and commissioning roles.
Why is the bachelor’s wage so much stronger than associate’s ($86K vs $73K)?
The $13,000 gap is larger than for many engineering-technology CIPs and reflects how the bachelor’s track in this field tilts toward automation engineering and integration roles rather than pure technician work. Texas A&M’s 83 bachelor’s completions and the Penn State Berks (27) and Penn State Altoona (26) programs anchor the bachelor’s side at universities that feed engineering-firm hiring directly. The bachelor’s-credentialed automation engineer or controls engineer role pays meaningfully above the technician role; the associate’s-credentialed technician role pays well at $72,871 but caps lower over a career.
Is the automation industry stable?
Yes — and growing in the background even as the named SOC shows only 1.1% growth. Industrial automation expansion (driven by reshoring, semiconductor manufacturing, EV battery plants, and aging-workforce replacement) creates structural demand for mechatronics talent. The Electrical drafters SOC declining -5.6% reflects automation displacing manual drafting, but that same automation requires skilled mechatronics technicians to install, commission, and maintain. Strong sectors include semiconductor manufacturing, automotive (especially EV), aerospace, medical device, food and beverage processing, and warehouse automation (Amazon-style fulfillment).
Do I need a bachelor’s, or is the associate’s sufficient?
The associate’s is sufficient for technician-level work and pays $72,871 — strong wages for a 2-year credential. The bachelor’s positions you for automation engineer, controls engineer, and integration project lead roles paying $86,002 with a meaningfully higher mid-career ceiling. If you want to be the person doing hands-on automation work, the associate’s is enough. If you want to design, specify, and lead automation projects, the bachelor’s opens that track. Strong programs at Texas A&M, Penn State, and Bakersfield College’s 4-year applied bachelor’s offer clear bachelor’s pathways.