General Engineering Technology

Types of Degrees General Engineering Technology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many general engineering technology graduations there were in 2017-2018 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	1,526
Associate’s Degree	1,257
Basic Certificate	746
Master’s Degree	331
Undergraduate Certificate	137
Graduate Certificate	40
Doctor’s Degree	12

What General Engineering Technology Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, engineering tech majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Engineering Tech Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in engineering tech should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Skills for Engineering Tech Majors

A major in engineering tech prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in General Engineering Technology?

This is a less frequently chosen undergraduate major. Only 1,526 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general engineering technology in 2018, making it rank #140 in popularity. This major attracts more men than women. About 91% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of engineering tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	64
Black or African American	124
Hispanic or Latino	174
White	873
International Students	213
Other Races/Ethnicities	78

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Engineering Tech, too. About 14.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• Saudi Arabia
• India
• China
• Nigeria
• Kuwait

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering tech was $55,950 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $51,900 (25th percentile) and $58,750 (75th percentile).

It’s important to note that just because the people reporting these salaries have a degree in engineering tech, it does not mean that they are working in a job related to their degree.

Online General Engineering Technology Programs

In the 2017-2018 academic year, 226 schools offered some type of general engineering technology program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	70	1
Certificate (1-2 years)	32	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	0
Associate’s Degree	149	3
Bachelor’s Degree	4	1
Post-Baccalaureate	70	1
Master’s Degree	20	5
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to General Engineering Technology

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to engineering tech.

Major	Number of Grads
Industrial Production Technology	14,418
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology	10,842
Electromechanical Engineering Technology	10,032
Electronics Engineering Technology	9,880
Environmental Control Technology	9,388
Mechanical Engineering Technology	7,628
Engineering-Related Fields	6,673
Quality Control Technology	4,467
Computer Engineering Technology	4,406
Construction Engineering Technology	3,497
Engineering Technology (Other)	1,906
Civil Engineering Technology	1,526
Architectural Engineering Technology	1,236
Mining & Petroleum Technology	976
Engineering-Related Technologies	859
Nuclear Engineering Technology	318
Nanotechnology	152

References

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By KUKA Systems GmbH under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.