Technicians are commonly seen working on engineering jobs, which is why some people associate the job title of technician with the engineer. However, technicians support engineers rather than perform actual engineering duties. Technicians make an average of $31,548 per year with an estimated $8,250 in overtime pay. How much a technician will make depends on several factors, including the industry they work in, their place of employment, their education and experience level and where they live. For example, technicians in Dallas, TX, make an average of $49,968 per year, which is more than $15,000 above the national average for this profession.

Engineering Technology Degree Salary

What is an engineering degree worth? Year after year, engineering jobs are paid the highest average starting salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) engineers have a median annual wage of $91,010 and the engineering field projects to have employment growth of nearly 140,000 new jobs over the next decade. The bottom line: it is well worth the time and effort it takes to become an engineer. Become an engineer today or advance your career with an online graduate certificate.

Technicians vs Technologist

Engineering Technologists are the middlemen in the world of engineering. They contribute their own rights in a positive, unique way to the industry. Both Engineers and Engineering Technologists work with project execution, design methods and practices, research and development and methods for effectively managing a business.

Engineering technicians, engineering technologists and technology professionals use scientific and engineering principles and methods to solve technical problems of practical nature. They provide the connection between scientific discoveries and their application for the improvement of life. Their activities range from creating new devices and systems for commercial purposes to improving the production of goods by using scientific skills in management, planning, control, automation, optimization, process design, development of natural resources, manufacture, integration of computer systems in real-life applications, utilization of earth resources for energy production, etc.

technologist vs technician vs engineer

Engineering technology simply means using scientific knowledge and practical skills to solve practical problems in the sphere of industrial production, communication systems, heat-power engineering, transportation, civil construction, etc. Here it is necessary to mention that the term “engineer” was given to those specialists who make hardware products. These people are called engineers because they make technical devices and machines.

can you become an engineer with an engineering technology degree

The difference between the two degrees also lies in their intended purpose. Engineering programs focus more on theory and design while engineering technology programs emphasize application and implementation. This means that engineering technology students learn through hands-on experience and collaboration with others, while engineers may rely more heavily on an individual studies to gain the knowledge they need.

With a 4-year engineering degree, students learn the necessary skills to solve practical problems, such as designing bridges and buildings. Engineering technology, on the other hand, is an applied discipline that uses engineering theory in laboratory situations—it emphasizes working with real-life materials and solving technical problems. It is often said that an engineering technology degree can prepare you for work in the industry, whereas an engineering degree can prepare you for work in academia. Thus, students choosing an engineering technology program are more likely to go into fields like mechanical, electrical or civil engineering.