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Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Engineering Technician I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Engineering Technician I in the United States is $52,742 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, a Mechanical Engineering Technician I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,689
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,891 to $58,472
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,474
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salaries

A Mechanical Engineering Technician I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Engineering Technician I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Mechanical Engineering Technician I (0-1 years): $52,742
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician II (1-3 years): $58,937
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician III (3-5 years): $67,570
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician IV (5-7 years): $75,167
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Mechanical Engineering Technician I0-1 years$52,742
Mechanical Engineering Technician II1-3 years$58,937
Mechanical Engineering Technician III3-5 years$67,570
Mechanical Engineering Technician IV5-7 years$75,167
View as Graph

How Do Mechanical Engineering Technician Is Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Mechanical Engineering Technician Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $58,396.
  • California: $58,174.
  • Massachusetts: $57,399.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Engineering Technician I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $66,523
  • San Francisco: $65,795
  • Oakland: $64,409

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Engineering Technician I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.42% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.92% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.42%
Preventive Maintenance 2.92%
Microsoft Office 1.93%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Mechanical Engineering Technician I's salary.

  • Adaptability: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Calibration: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Adaptability $70,147
33%
Time Management $61,181
16%
Calibration $59,071
12%
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Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Mechanical Engineering Technician I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $59,042. While startup companies pay approximate $49,948.

Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $49,948
Growth Stage 51~500 $52,826
Established 501~5000 $57,015
Enterprise 5000+ $59,042

Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mechanical Engineering Technician I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Mechanical Engineering Technician positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mechanical Engineering Technician I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mechanical Engineering Technician I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$65,928$32.025%
Insurance$60,653$29.015%
Aerospace & Defense$58,016$28.010%
Energy & Utilities$58,016$28.010%
Financial Services$58,016$28.010%

How Education impacts an Mechanical Engineering Technician I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Engineering Technician I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Mechanical Engineering Technician I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $49,020 and $52,964.

Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Engineering Technician I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 14.0%
Associates 43.0%
Bachelors 36.8%
Masters 4.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Engineering Technician I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$47,891
Average $52,742/year
$58,472
$3,991
Average $4,395/month
$4,873
$921
Average $1,014/week
$1,124
$23
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,472 $4,873 $1,124 $28
Average $52,742 $4,395 $1,014 $25
25th Percentile $47,891 $3,991 $921 $23

Mechanical Engineering Technician I Salary Growth & Career Path

Mechanical Engineering Technician I

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Advancement

For a Mechanical Engineering Technician I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Mechanical Engineering Technician II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $58,937 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Mechanical Engineering Technician I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Mechanical Engineering Technician I

Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Engineering Technician I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Mechanical Engineering Technician I

1. Where can a Mechanical Engineering Technician I earn the most?

A Mechanical Engineering Technician I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Mechanical Engineering Technician I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Mechanical Engineering Technician I is $66,523.

2. What is the highest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician I?

The highest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician I is $63,689.

3. What is the lowest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician I?

The lowest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician I is $43,474.

4. What are the responsibilities of Mechanical Engineering Technician I?

Assists mechanical engineers in the planning, testing, and maintenance of mechanical components, equipment, and machinery. Gathers data and project requirements to help prepare proposals, cost estimates, and develop specifications for new parts or prototypes. Conducts clerical research tasks and summarizes and reports findings to support research and development of new technologies or processes. Installs, calibrates, tests, and repairs mechanical components and engineering solutions. Fabricates, modifies, and assembles new or existing mechanical components. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Mechanical Engineering Technician I?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Mechanical Engineering Technician I roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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