Engineering Technologist Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineering Technologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Technologist in the United States is $50,847 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, an Engineering Technologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $57,525
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,283 to $54,342
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,129

Key Factors That Influence Engineering Technologist Salaries

An Engineering Technologist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Engineering Technologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering Technologist'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $45,037
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,163
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $60,595
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $114,964
  • Expert (over 8 years): $139,626
Levels Salary
Process E... Level Engineering Technologist$45,037
Engineeri... Level Engineering Technologist$51,163
Process E... Level Engineering Technologist$60,595
Process E... Level Engineering Technologist$114,964
Process E... Level Engineering Technologist$139,626

How Do Engineering Technologist 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 Engineering Technologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $56,297.
  • California: $56,084.
  • Massachusetts: $55,336.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering Technologists

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: $64,133
  • San Francisco: $63,431
  • Oakland: $62,094

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Technologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.65% 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.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.47% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 1.92% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.65%
Hydraulics 2.47%
ISO 1.92%

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 an Engineering Technologist's salary.

  • Technical Support: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Soldering: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Technical Support $54,914
8%
Soldering $54,406
7%
Communication Skills $53,897
6%

Engineering Technologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Engineering Technologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Engineering Technologist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Engineering Technologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Engineering Technologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$61,016$29.020%
Pharmaceuticals$58,474$28.015%
Telecom$58,474$28.015%
Aerospace & Defense$55,931$27.010%
Biotechnology$55,931$27.010%

Engineering Technologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineering Technologist'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 September 01, 2026
$46,283
Average $50,847/year
$54,342
$3,857
Average $4,237/month
$4,529
$890
Average $978/week
$1,045
$22
Average $24/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $54,342 $4,529 $1,045 $26
Average $50,847 $4,237 $978 $24
25th Percentile $46,283 $3,857 $890 $22

Most common benefits for Engineering Technologist

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

Common company salaries for Engineering Technologist

Here are companies hiring for Engineering Technologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Engineering Technologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Engineering Technologist?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Engineering Technologist roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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