Engineering Technology, General Degree

34 schools compared · Average earnings $58,811/yr

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.

Schools Offering
34
Avg Grad Earnings
$58,811/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
58/100
AI Automation Risk
High
43% task exposure

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
$79,830
$65K$102K
900 +8.1% 32%
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
$60K$98K
5,700 +1.5% 24%
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
$61K$95K
8,400 +0.6% 41%
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
$70,760
$59K$87K
1,300 +1.1% 42%
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
$64,790
$53K$79K
6,300 +1.7% 39%
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
$64,200
$52K$80K
5,500 +2.1% 59%
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
$79,830
$65K $102K
900 openings/yr +8.1% growth 32% AI risk
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
$60K $98K
5,700 openings/yr +1.5% growth 24% AI risk
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
$61K $95K
8,400 openings/yr +0.6% growth 41% AI risk
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
$70,760
$59K $87K
1,300 openings/yr +1.1% growth 42% AI risk
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
$64,790
$53K $79K
6,300 openings/yr +1.7% growth 39% AI risk
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
$64,200
$52K $80K
5,500 openings/yr +2.1% growth 59% AI risk

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
Want to compare two Engineering Technology, General programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Engineering Technology, General graduates earn?
Across 34 schools, Engineering Technology, General graduates earn an average of $58,811 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $40,864 to $85,830 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Engineering Technology, General?
Engineering Technology, General is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 43% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Engineering Technology, General program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Miami University-Hamilton ranks #1 for Engineering Technology, General with a score of 68/100 and graduate earnings of $69,483/yr.
What's the outlook for a Engineering Technology, General degree?
On average, Engineering Technology, General graduates earn 17.9x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →