Most Engineering-Related Tech programs take two years to complete. Graduates start earning $68,765 right after finishing, climbing to $74,842 four years out.
This page covers Engineering-Related Tech as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Engineering Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Engineering-Related Tech is a focused area of study within Engineering Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $74,842 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 122 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,144 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$68,765
Median Earnings · 4yr
$74,842
Colleges Offering
122
Graduates / Year
1,144
Avg Net Price / yr
$13,323
How Much Do Engineering-Related Tech Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Engineering-Related Tech, a typical graduate earns $74,842, above the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $61,538 and $97,126, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings in this field tend to be stable early on. Expect the four-year median to closely reflect your long-term starting point.
$74,842
4-Year National Median
Above the national median for college graduates.
$82,580
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Engineering-Related Tech graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$61,53825th pct.
$74,842Median
$97,12675th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $74,842 against an estimated $53,292 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 30 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 1,144 students who complete Engineering-Related Tech programs each year, the majority (44%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
25%44%27%
Associate's44%
Bachelor's27%
Certificate25%
What Can You Do With an Engineering-Related Tech Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Engineering-Related Tech graduates show up in 4 different occupations, and Cartographers and Photogrammetrists pay the most at $81,390/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.
Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.
Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.
Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment.
Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.
Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings.
Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.
High school diploma or equivalent6,900 openings/yr58K employed nationally
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMathematicsWritingComplex Problem Solving
Day-to-day responsibilities
Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.
Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
Top Colleges for Engineering-Related Tech
Not sure where to study Engineering-Related Tech? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Engineering-Related Tech graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Engineering-Related Tech is not the only path through Engineering Tech: 18 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Engineering-Related Tech program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Engineering-Related Tech a solid option. The 4 strengths and 0 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $74,842 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +7.4% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 14,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $97,126, a strong ceiling for high performers.
How much do Engineering-Related Tech graduates earn?
$74,842 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $61,538 and $97,126, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Engineering-Related Tech degree?
$68,765 in the first year out. That grows to $74,842 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Engineering-Related Tech degree?
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists are one path, and it pays a median of $81,390 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Engineering-Related Tech program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for an Engineering-Related Tech associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Engineering-Related Tech?
122 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Engineering-Related Tech degree worth it?
$74,842 median earnings four years out against $13,323 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Engineering-Related Tech and Engineering Tech?
Engineering-Related Tech is the narrower of the two: Engineering Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Engineering-Related Tech-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Engineering-Related Tech graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Engineering-Related Tech graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Engineering-Related Tech graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Engineering-Related Tech graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +5.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Cartographers and Photogrammetrists are among the strongest-growth roles at +7.4%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Other programs in Engineering Tech. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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