Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.

Also called: Automation Technician (Automation Tech), Electro-Mechanic, Electromechanical Assembler (EM Assembler), Electromechanical Technician (EM Technician), Electronics Technician (Electronics Tech), Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech), Process Control Tech, Product Test Specialist, Test Engineering Technician (Test Engineering Tech), Test Technician (Test Tech), Automation Test Specialist, Calibration Technician, Certified Control Systems Technician, Commercial Drone Operator, Commercial Drone Pilot, Commercial Drone Technician, Drone Operator, Drone Pilot, Drone Technician, Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Tech), Electromechanical Assembly Technician (EM Assembly Technician), Electromechanical Engineering Technologist (EM Engineering Technologist), Electromechanical Equipment Tester (EM Equipment Tester), Electromechanical Specialist (EM Specialist), Electromechanical Technologist (EM Technologist), Electronic Industrial Control Mechanic, Field Service Technician, Hardware Rework Specialist, IE PM Inspector (Instrumentation and Electrical Preventive Maintenance Inspector), Instrument and Controls Technician (Instrument and Controls Tech), Instrumentation Technician, Mechanical Designer, Mechatronics Technician, Mechatronics Technologist, Metrology Calibration Technician (Metrology Calibration Tech), Photovoltaic Fabrication and Testing Technician (PV Fabrication and Testing Technician), Remote Pilot, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Controller (RPA Controller), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator (RPA Operator), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot (RPA Pilot), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Technician (RPA Technician), Remotely Piloted Vehicle Controller (RPV Controller), Remotely Piloted Vehicle Engineering Technician (RPV Engineering Technician), Research and Design Lab Technician (R and D Lab Tech), Rework Specialist, Rework Technician, Robotics Testing Technician, Supply Chain Technician, Tester, Underwater Roboticist, Unmanned Aerial Systems Operator (UAS Operator), Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilot (UAS Pilot), Unmanned Aerial Systems Technician (UAS Technician), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Operator (UAV Operator), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Pilot (UAV Pilot), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Technician (UAV Technician), Unmanned Air Systems Operator, Unmanned Aircraft Operator (UA Operator), Unmanned Aircraft Pilot (UA Pilot), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UAS Pilot), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roboticist (UAS Roboticist), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technician (UAS Technician), Unmanned Aircraft Technician (UA Technician), Unmanned Equipment Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Test performance of electromechanical assemblies, using test instruments such as oscilloscopes, electronic voltmeters, or bridges.
Install or program computer hardware or machine or instrumentation software in microprocessor-based systems.
Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders to determine methods and sequences of assembly.
Modify, maintain, or repair electrical, electronic, or mechanical components, equipment, or systems to ensure proper functioning.
Inspect parts for surface defects.
Install electrical or electronic parts and hardware in housings or assemblies, using soldering equipment and hand tools.
Verify part dimensions or clearances to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Fabricate or assemble mechanical, electrical, or electronic components or assemblies.
Align, fit, or assemble component parts, using hand or power tools, fixtures, templates, or microscopes.
Produce electrical, electronic, or mechanical drawings or other related documents or graphics necessary for electromechanical design, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Troubleshooting
Monitoring
Repairing
Critical Thinking
Quality Control Analysis
Operation and Control
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Complex Problem Solving
Active Listening
Writing

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate (31.72% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

59,780–88,540 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 17-3024.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Deepen PLC, controls, robot integration, and safe troubleshooting skills; explore senior technician, integration, or automation project responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate (31.72% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians