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Major · Mechanic and Repair

A catchall trade credential for specialized repair specialties

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other (CIP 47.9999) is the catchall code for repair-trade programs not fitting a named CIP. About 974 students complete it across 40 institutions — heavily concentrated in Georgia and Louisiana technical colleges — with associate’s graduates earning around $61,040.

Schools offering
40
Annual completions
974
Typical degree level
Associate's
Median earnings (5yr)
$61k

About this major

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other (CIP 47.9999) is the catchall code that technical colleges use for specialized repair-trade programs that don’t fit a named CIP. The CIP definition is deliberately broad: any instructional program in mechanic and repair technologies not listed above. In practice, this code houses programs that fall outside the named automotive (47.0604), diesel (47.0605), aircraft (47.0607), HVAC, or marine repair tracks — examples include consolidated diesel-and-equipment-repair credentials, multi-trade industrial-maintenance programs, and military-aligned maintenance tracks. Specific program content varies considerably by institution.

The major fits students drawn to hands-on diagnostic and repair work, comfortable with hand tools and shop equipment, and looking for a labor-market credential that maps to a specific employer pipeline rather than to a national job title. It rewards mechanical aptitude, patience for sequential troubleshooting, and physical stamina. The career ladder runs from helper and apprentice into journeyman technician and into shop foreman or specialist roles, with each step driven mostly by paid work hours and certifications rather than by additional formal credentials.

One grounded observation about scale and concentration: 974 students complete this CIP across 40 institutions, but Central Georgia Technical College (374) and Columbus Technical College (259) together produce 65% of national output. That level of concentration signals state-funded technical-college programs feeding specific regional employers — Georgia-based military bases, manufacturing plants, and equipment dealers in Central Georgia and Columbus. Northshore Technical Community (Louisiana), Savannah Technical, and South Louisiana Community extend the pattern. Associate’s graduates earn $61,040 in five-year tracked wages, in line with industrial-maintenance and diesel-tech medians. If you’re outside this regional pipeline, both the credential and its employer recognition will be more limited.

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.

No federal crosswalk data available for this major yet.

Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

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

Median 5-year earnings

$61k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you’re drawn to hands-on diagnostic and repair work and comfortable with shop equipment and hand tools, you’re considering a Georgia or Louisiana technical college that feeds directly into local employer networks (military bases, manufacturing plants, equipment dealers), you’re realistic that the credential is regionally specific and the catalog matters more than the CIP code, you’re willing to layer industry certifications (ASE, EPA 608, OSHA 30) onto the degree to signal employer-recognized skill, and you’re fine with physically demanding work in shop and field settings.

Think twice if your target career is named automotive, diesel, or aircraft repair — those CIPs (47.0604, 47.0605, 47.0607) are larger, more standardized, and tied to industry-recognized certifications (ASE, FAA A&P) that travel better outside a regional employer base. Reconsider if you’re outside the Georgia and Louisiana technical-college pipeline that produces 65% of completions in this CIP — the credential’s employer recognition is concentrated in those states. Also pause if a shorter certificate at a community or technical college is enough for your target job; many repair trades list a postsecondary nondegree award as typical entry, so the associate’s ROI deserves scrutiny.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Mechanic and Repair 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
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA 374 0 374
Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA 259 0 259
Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA 73 0 73
Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ 42 0 42
Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA 42 0 42
South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA 22 0 22
Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC 19 0 19
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA 18 0 18
Washburn University Topeka, KS 14 0 14
Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LA 13 0 13
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Science Technologies/Technicians, Other

2,437 completions/yr

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other

550 completions/yr

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other

105 completions/yr

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

75 completions/yr

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

61 completions/yr

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other

25 completions/yr

Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians, Other

13 completions/yr

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians, Other

5 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What does this catchall CIP actually cover?
The CIP definition is deliberately broad: any instructional program in mechanic and repair technologies not listed above. In practice, this code houses specialized repair programs that don’t map cleanly to automotive (47.0604), diesel (47.0605), aircraft (47.0607), HVAC, or marine repair. Specific program content varies considerably by institution — examples include consolidated diesel-and-equipment-repair programs, broad multi-trade maintenance credentials, or industrial-equipment repair tracks. The course catalog at your target college is the only reliable guide.
Why are Georgia technical colleges dominant in this CIP?
Central Georgia Technical (374 completions) and Columbus Technical (259) together produce 65% of national completions — a level of concentration that signals these are state-funded programs feeding regional employers (military bases, manufacturing, agricultural equipment) on Georgia-specific curriculum. Northshore Technical Community (Louisiana, 73), Savannah Technical (42), and South Louisiana Community (22) extend the pattern. If you’re outside this regional pipeline, your access to the credential and to its employer recognition will be more limited.
What jobs do graduates land — and at what pay?
The packet doesn’t list specific BLS occupations, which is common for catchall codes. Realistic destinations follow the program’s actual specialty: industrial maintenance technician (BLS median around $62,000), diesel technician ($58,970), automotive service technician ($46,970), or specialized repair technician roles in manufacturing, transportation, or military maintenance. The packet shows associate’s graduates at $61,040 in five-year tracked wages, in line with industrial maintenance and diesel-tech medians and above the automotive-tech median.
Do I need an associate’s, or is a certificate enough?
It depends on the specific specialty. Many repair trades — automotive, diesel, HVAC, industrial maintenance — list a postsecondary nondegree award as typical entry, meaning a shorter certificate at a technical college often opens the same door. The associate’s adds general-education credits and may signal more flexibility for moves into supervisor or specialty-shop ownership later. Verify with your target employers directly: many will hire on certifications and demonstrated skill rather than on the degree level.
How does this compare to named repair CIPs?
Named programs — Automotive Mechanics Technology (47.0604, 10,351 completions), Diesel Mechanics Technology (47.0605, 2,426 completions), Airframe Mechanics (47.0607, 1,506 completions) — are far larger and have standardized curricula tied to industry-recognized certifications (ASE for auto, FAA A&P for aircraft). The 47.9999 catchall sits at 974 completions and houses programs that fall outside those named tracks. If your target career is automotive or diesel, the named CIP is the clearer path; the catchall makes more sense for industrial-maintenance or multi-trade programs without a named CIP.