Engineering Technology, General Degree
Students study the practical application of engineering principles, focusing on hands-on implementation, testing, and management of technical systems rather than theoretical design. Graduates typically pursue careers as engineering technologists, technical managers, quality engineers, and field service engineers in manufacturing and construction. Engineering technology programs offer more applied training compared to traditional engineering degrees.
What Engineering Technology, General Graduates Do
Your degree is a passport to the world where engineering designs become physical reality. As an electrical engineering technologist, you won't just theorize about circuits; you'll be in the lab building prototypes, running diagnostics on automated factory lines, and troubleshooting complex control systems. In an industrial role, you’re the efficiency expert on the ground, timing production cycles, analyzing workflows, and rearranging equipment to make manufacturing faster and safer. As a civil engineering technologist, you work on-site, surveying land, testing concrete strength, and inspecting bridges to ensure they match the blueprints.
You’ll typically start with hands-on tasks under an engineer’s supervision, and with experience, you can lead more complex projects or manage teams. While most of these fields offer stable career paths, aerospace technology stands out with significantly faster job growth.
With moderate AI exposure, expect your job to evolve. AI will increasingly handle routine data analysis and initial diagnostics, freeing you to focus on what it can't do: complex hands-on troubleshooting, calibrating unique equipment, and adapting designs in the real world. Your value will lie in bridging the gap between digital models and tangible results.
Common Career Paths
Where Engineering Technology, General graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 28,100 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians | 900 | +8.1% | 32% | |
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | 5,700 | +1.5% | 24% | |
| Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians | 8,400 | +0.6% | 41% | |
| Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians | 1,300 | +1.1% | 42% | |
| Industrial engineering technologists and technicians | 6,300 | +1.7% | 39% | |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 5,500 | +2.1% | 59% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Engineering Technology, General
Top 20 of 34 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami University-Hamilton Hamilton, OH |
68 66–69 |
$69,483/yr | 29.7x |
| 2 | Miami University-Middletown Middletown, OH |
68 66–69 |
$69,483/yr | 29.7x |
| 3 | Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN |
67 65–68 |
$85,830/yr | 18.8x |
| 4 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA |
67 65–68 |
$64,728/yr | 37.7x |
| 5 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO |
65 62–65 |
$61,424/yr | 20.7x |
| 6 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM |
65 63–66 |
$60,250/yr | 25.0x |
| 7 | Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA |
65 62–66 |
$54,464/yr | 26.3x |
| 8 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS |
64 62–65 |
$61,696/yr | 18.6x |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI |
63 61–64 |
$67,461/yr | 17.6x |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL |
63 61–64 |
$62,117/yr | 15.8x |
| 11 | University of Memphis Memphis, TN |
63 61–64 |
$61,465/yr | 18.1x |
| 12 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC |
63 61–64 |
$59,813/yr | 35.8x |
| 13 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN |
63 60–63 |
$59,622/yr | 18.4x |
| 14 | Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH |
61 59–62 |
$69,483/yr | 11.6x |
| 15 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN |
61 59–62 |
$60,808/yr | 17.3x |
| 16 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN |
61 58–62 |
$56,551/yr | 17.6x |
| 17 | Morehead State University Morehead, KY |
60 57–61 |
$51,021/yr | 18.2x |
| 18 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ |
59 57–60 |
$64,831/yr | 10.6x |
| 19 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL |
59 57–60 |
$64,762/yr | 11.9x |
| 20 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT |
59 58–59 |
$43,320/yr | 29.1x |
Highest Earning Engineering Technology, General Programs
Schools where Engineering Technology, General graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bemidji State University | $85,830/yr | 67 |
| Eastern Washington University | $70,789/yr | 56 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | $69,483/yr | 68 |
| Miami University-Middletown | $69,483/yr | 68 |
| Miami University-Oxford | $69,483/yr | 61 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | $67,461/yr | 63 |
| Drexel University | $66,431/yr | 50 |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $64,831/yr | 59 |
| Western Illinois University | $64,762/yr | 59 |
| Kennesaw State University | $64,728/yr | 67 |
Best ROI for Engineering Technology, General
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Engineering Technology, General.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennesaw State University | 37.7x | $64,728/yr | 67 |
| Western Carolina University | 35.8x | $59,813/yr | 63 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 29.7x | $69,483/yr | 68 |
| Miami University-Middletown | 29.7x | $69,483/yr | 68 |
| Southern Utah University | 29.1x | $43,320/yr | 59 |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | 26.3x | $54,464/yr | 65 |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 25.0x | $60,250/yr | 65 |
| University of West Florida | 24.1x | $63,807/yr | 56 |
| University of Central Missouri | 20.7x | $61,424/yr | 65 |
| Kent State University at Tuscarawas | 20.4x | $45,477/yr | 55 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Consider the Trade Route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Engineering Technology, General offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.