undergradly.
Major · Engineering Technology

The catchall code for electromechanical programs that don’t fit a named CIP

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other (CIP 15.0499) is the residual bucket for applied electromechanical programs that don’t map to a named code like Mechatronics (15.0403) or Automation Engineer Tech (15.0406). About 550 students complete it across 65 institutions, and what you actually study depends heavily on the school.

Schools offering
65
Annual completions
550
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$76k

About this major

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other (CIP 15.0499) is the catchall federal code for applied electromechanical programs that don’t fit a named sub-discipline. The definition simply covers any electromechanical-technology program not listed under codes like Mechatronics Engineering Technology (15.0403), Instrumentation Technology (15.0404), or Automation Engineer Technology (15.0406). In practice, programs under this code share an applied technician core — DC and AC circuits, electronics, mechanical fundamentals, sensors and instrumentation, hydraulics and pneumatics, motor controls, and PLC programming — but the upper-level coursework varies considerably by institution. One school may run a wind-turbine technology track, another may emphasize semiconductor-equipment maintenance, and a third may focus on conventional industrial-plant mechatronics. Read the catalog before assuming the title.

The major fits students drawn to integrated electrical-and-mechanical systems work who want a fast credentialing path into a real working role. It rewards methodical troubleshooting across multiple system layers, comfort with both hand tools and electronic test equipment, and the patience that multi-day commissioning and maintenance work demands. Day-to-day at the technician level mixes equipment diagnosis, PLC programming and modification, sensor calibration, mechanical adjustment, and the documentation work that keeps automated and electromechanical systems running.

A grounded observation about scale: 550 students complete this CIP across 65 institutions, with a strong regional concentration in South Carolina’s manufacturing corridor — Spartanburg Community College (84 completions), Tri-County Technical (64), Greenville Tech (58), Piedmont Tech (31), and Midlands Tech (29) together produce nearly half of all graduates. The packet names one direct SOC destination, Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians, paying $70,760 with 1.1% projected growth. Five-year median earnings across the credential run $76,343, with associate’s grads at $72,871 and bachelor’s grads at $86,002 — though the bachelor’s side is thin, with Pennsylvania College of Technology (20 completions) as the only sizable bachelor’s producer in the top ten.

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
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 want hands-on integrated electrical-and-mechanical work and prefer applied troubleshooting to engineering design; you live in or near one of the regional clusters where the credential carries real local hiring weight (the SC manufacturing corridor, central Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico’s pharma/medical-device base); you have a specific specialization in mind — wind-turbine, elevator-mechanic, semiconductor-equipment, motor controls, marine electromechanical — and the local program covers it; you’re comfortable with the associate’s as a terminal credential paying $72,871 for entry-level technician roles; and you’re willing to stack certifications (ISA CCST, Allen-Bradley/Siemens, NCCER, EASA) to make a catchall CIP read more clearly on a resume.

Reasons to pause: this is a generalist trade-credential, and graduates without a clear specialization can get squeezed between engineers above (who do the design work) and industrial-mechanic generalists below (who handle broader maintenance). If a named CIP fits your actual coursework — Mechatronics (15.0403, 1,104 completions), Automation Engineer Tech (15.0406, 700), or Instrumentation Tech (15.0404, 1,036) — that named code reads more clearly to employers and recruiters. The bachelor’s premium of $86,002 looks attractive, but the named SOC lists an associate’s as the typical entry credential and the bachelor’s data rests on a small enrollment base. If you want the engineer title, transfer to a 14.xx engineering CIP rather than continuing within engineering technology. School-specific quality varies considerably across the 65 institutions; verify which PLC platforms, robotics manufacturers, and industry partnerships the program supports before enrolling.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other

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

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC 84 0 84
Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC 64 0 64
Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC 58 0 58
Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC 31 0 31
Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC 29 0 29
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA 0 20 20
BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston, WV 19 0 19
Pennsylvania Western University California, PA 17 0 17
Mech-Tech College Caguas, PR 17 0 17
Hinds Community College Raymond, MS 13 0 13
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Science Technologies/Technicians, Other

2,437 completions/yr

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other

1,150 completions/yr

Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician

1,104 completions/yr

Instrumentation Technology/Technician

1,036 completions/yr

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

974 completions/yr

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other

733 completions/yr

Automation Engineer Technology/Technician

700 completions/yr

Biomedical Technology/Technician

652 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What does this major actually cover?
There is no single answer for a CIP 15.0499 program, and that is the honest framing. The federal definition simply names any electromechanical-technology program not listed under a named code, so the catalog at one school may emphasize motor controls and PLC programming while another runs a wind-turbine, elevator-mechanic, or semiconductor-equipment maintenance track. Most programs share an applied core — DC and AC circuits, electronics, mechanical fundamentals, sensors and instrumentation, hydraulics and pneumatics, and PLC programming — but the upper-level coursework is where the specialization lives. Read the specific catalog and the lab-equipment list before assuming the title means what you think it means.
How does this differ from the named electromechanical CIPs (15.0403, 15.0406)?
The named codes inside the same concentration describe specific tracks. Electromechanical/Mechatronics Engineering Technology (CIP 15.0403, 1,104 completions) is the integrated mechatronics track combining electrical and mechanical systems with industrial-automation focus. Automation Engineer Technology (15.0406, 700 completions) sits closer to controls and process automation. Instrumentation Technology (15.0404, 1,036 completions) emphasizes sensors and measurement systems. The 15.0499 ‘Other’ code at 550 completions exists for programs that genuinely don’t fit any of those — niche industry partnerships, regional employer-sponsored tracks, or specialized verticals like wind energy or marine electromechanical work. If a named code fits your actual coursework, employers will read it more clearly on a resume.
What jobs do graduates land?
The packet names one core SOC: Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians, with a $70,760 median wage and 1.1% projected growth — modest but stable. Realistic destinations include automation technician, controls technician, motor and drive specialist, field service technician for industrial-equipment manufacturers, and maintenance technician at manufacturing plants. Adjacent roles in industrial machinery repair and electrical/electronic equipment service are common destinations too, especially for graduates who pick up cross-trade certifications. Where you specialize matters: wind-turbine technicians, elevator mechanics, and semiconductor-equipment technicians draw from this credential pool but follow distinct career ladders.
Is the bachelor’s worth it, or is the associate’s enough?
The data shows associate’s grads earning $72,871 and bachelor’s grads earning $86,002, but the bachelor’s figure rests on thin enrollment — Pennsylvania College of Technology is the only school in the top ten with bachelor’s completions (20 per year). The named SOC (Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists) lists ‘Associate’s degree’ as the typical entry credential, so the bachelor’s is overspecified for most technician roles. The associate’s is sufficient for the work the credential is designed for. The bachelor’s makes sense if you want to step into automation engineer, controls engineer, or project lead roles — but for those, a named CIP (15.0403 mechatronics or a 14.xx engineering CIP) often signals more clearly to employers.
Why are so many top programs in South Carolina?
Five of the top ten producing institutions are South Carolina technical colleges — Spartanburg (84), Tri-County (64), Greenville Tech (58), Piedmont Tech (31), and Midlands Tech (29). This concentration reflects upstate SC’s manufacturing corridor (BMW Spartanburg, Volvo, Bosch, Michelin) and the SC Technical College System’s tight coordination with employer hiring. Pennsylvania College of Technology (20 bachelor’s) anchors a smaller mid-Atlantic cluster alongside Pennsylvania Western and BridgeValley in West Virginia. Mech-Tech College in Caguas, Puerto Rico (17) serves the island’s pharmaceutical and medical-device manufacturing base. If you live near one of these clusters, the local hiring pipeline is part of the credential’s value; outside those regions, verify employer demand before enrolling.
What credentials should I stack on top of this degree?
Because this CIP is a catchall, stackable certifications carry a lot of the resume weight. Common combinations include ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST), Allen-Bradley/Rockwell and Siemens automation training, NCCER Industrial Maintenance, EASA certifications for motor and generator service, and BICSI for low-voltage adjacency. Verify which PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi) and robotics manufacturers (FANUC, ABB, KUKA) the program covers — local employer hiring patterns determine which certifications matter. Registered apprenticeships through IBEW, IUOE, or specific manufacturer programs are real alternatives to the AAS route for students who prefer earn-while-you-learn.