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Concentration · CIP 47

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/technicians

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians is the CIP 47 family covering hands-on programs that train students to diagnose, service, and restore tools, vehicles, aircraft, industrial equipment, and electronic systems. The 35 majors inside this concentration range from the high-volume Automotive Mechanics Technology track found at 517 colleges to specialized niches like Avionics Maintenance, Gunsmithing, and Wind Energy System Repair. Programs typically award certificates or associate degrees and feed directly into skilled trades careers. Students who land here are usually weighing a fast path to employment in a field where technician demand remains structurally strong and where hands-on skill compounds into above-median wages over a career.

Majors
35
Colleges
517
Annual completions
24,480
Top career
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
Majors in this concentration

Sorted by popularity

Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician

Top career: Automotive service technicians and mechanics

517 colleges · 10,351 completions/yr

Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician

Top career: Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

181 colleges · 2,426 completions/yr

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician

Top career: Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

256 colleges · 2,254 completions/yr

Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician

Top career: Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

95 colleges · 1,506 completions/yr

Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician

Top career: Industrial machinery mechanics

177 colleges · 1,277 completions/yr

Gunsmithing/Gunsmith

Top career: Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

13 colleges · 1,114 completions/yr

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

40 colleges · 974 completions/yr

Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician

Top career: Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

58 colleges · 600 completions/yr

Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Automotive body and related repairers

154 colleges · 588 completions/yr

Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician

Top career: Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

67 colleges · 582 completions/yr

Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General

Top career: Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

80 colleges · 520 completions/yr

Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician

Top career: Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

22 colleges · 305 completions/yr

High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic

Top career: Automotive service technicians and mechanics

8 colleges · 278 completions/yr

Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Motorcycle mechanics

10 colleges · 268 completions/yr

Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician

Top career: Automotive service technicians and mechanics

37 colleges · 250 completions/yr

Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician

Top career: Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

32 colleges · 238 completions/yr

Mechanics and Repairers, General

Top career: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

11 colleges · 222 completions/yr

Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers

38 colleges · 169 completions/yr

Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

16 colleges · 126 completions/yr

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

Top career: Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

10 colleges · 75 completions/yr

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician

Top career: Automotive service technicians and mechanics

13 colleges · 61 completions/yr

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

13 colleges · 61 completions/yr

Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

14 colleges · 39 completions/yr

Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician

Top career: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

1 colleges · 34 completions/yr

Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics

11 colleges · 29 completions/yr

Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair

Top career: Musical instrument repairers and tuners

6 colleges · 27 completions/yr

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General

Top career: Automotive service technicians and mechanics

7 colleges · 27 completions/yr

Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

4 colleges · 24 completions/yr

Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking

Top career: Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers

2 colleges · 14 completions/yr

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Other

5 colleges · 12 completions/yr

Wind Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

2 colleges · 12 completions/yr

Engine Machinist

Top career: Engine and other machine assemblers

1 colleges · 7 completions/yr

Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

Top career: Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

5 colleges · 5 completions/yr

Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

2 colleges · 3 completions/yr

Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Top career: Home appliance repairers

3 colleges · 2 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

How do I choose between the majors in this concentration?
Start with the employer landscape in your region. Automotive Mechanics Technology is available at 517 colleges and produces over 10,000 graduates a year — competition is real but so is demand. If you live near a distribution hub or port, Diesel Mechanics (181 colleges, 2,426 completions) may offer less crowded hiring. Industrial Mechanics and HVAC each serve specific plant or building-systems employers. Availability at a local community college often narrows the choice for you.
What is the difference between Automotive Mechanics Technology and Diesel Mechanics Technology?
Automotive Mechanics Technology focuses on light-duty vehicles — cars, SUVs, and light trucks — using gasoline engines and modern electronics. The primary career is Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics at a $49,670 median wage. Diesel Mechanics Technology targets heavy-duty trucks, buses, and off-road equipment running compression-ignition engines. The primary career is Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, which typically pays modestly higher. If you prefer working on 18-wheelers or transit fleets over personal vehicles, diesel is the cleaner fit.
Which majors in this family are most common at the associate's level versus certificates?
HVAC/Refrigeration, Industrial Mechanics, and Automotive Mechanics Technology are most commonly offered as both certificate and associate degree programs. Aircraft Airframe Mechanics typically requires at least an associate-level credential due to FAA certification prerequisites. Gunsmithing and Musical Instrument Repair tend to be shorter certificate programs. The data shows 517 colleges offering automotive and 256 offering HVAC, which means both appear widely in community college associate degree catalogs.
What do graduates from this concentration typically earn?
The family median across all 35 majors sits around $40,400. But that blended figure masks real variation. Automotive service technicians earn a $49,670 median; industrial machinery mechanics earn $63,760; and first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers — a common advancement target — earn $78,300. Aircraft specialties (airframe and powerplant) typically track above the family median due to FAA certification requirements. Wage growth within this concentration is tied less to credential level and more to specialization and years of employer-specific experience.
Are there transfer pathways from these programs into four-year degrees?
Transfer into four-year bachelor's programs is possible but less standardized than in liberal arts fields. Some universities offer Bachelor of Applied Technology or Bachelor of Science in Technology Management degrees that accept community college technical credits. The more common advancement path in CIP 47 is credentials-plus-experience: complete the associate degree, accumulate journeyman-level hours, and pursue manufacturer certifications (ASE, FAA A&P, etc.) that raise wages without requiring a four-year degree. Students seeking management roles may find that an applied technology bachelor's opens doors more than a traditional engineering transfer.
What are the most specialized or niche majors in this concentration?
Among the 35 majors, Gunsmithing (13 colleges, 1,114 completions), Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair (6 colleges), Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking (2 colleges), and Wind Energy System Installation and Repair (2 colleges) represent the most specialized niches. Recreation Vehicle Service Technician is offered at only 1 college. These programs often have strong placement rates because graduates enter a small, defined employer pool — but geographic flexibility after graduation is limited, and the total number of jobs in some categories is modest.