Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 1 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians pays
Career outlook for Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians graduates
The job market for the occupations Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | 67,300 | +1.5% | $77,390 | Associate's degree |
| Surveying and mapping technicians | 59,400 | +4.5% | $51,940 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Surveyors | 56,100 | +4.4% | $72,740 | Bachelor's degree |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 38,300 | +0.0% | $68,730 | Associate's degree |
| Drafters, all other | 17,100 | -6.9% | $62,010 | Associate's degree |
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | 13,400 | +6.4% | $78,380 | Bachelor's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians vs similar majors
How Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians stacks up against the closest fields in Engineering Technologies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians Engineering Technologies · this major | Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician | Engineering-Related Fields | Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 61 C | 97 A | 90 A | 91 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $64,342 | $132,815 | $109,982 | $89,857 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | — | $101,386 | $89,179 | $71,410 |
| ROI vs cost | +169% | +1,058% | +700% | +461% |
| Typical debt | — | $10,555 | $25,304 | $22,024 |
| Colleges offering it | 1 | 3 | 52 | 43 |
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN | Certificate | $64,342 | — | +1,783% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.