Mechatronics vs Mechanical Engineering 2026
Quick answer: Mechanical engineering is a coded occupation (SOC 17-2141) with a median of $104,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Mechatronics as a technician credential maps to SOC 17-3024 at $73,900. A mechatronics engineering bachelor’s exists, but BLS has no separate mechatronics-engineer wage.
What each degree actually is
Mechanical engineering is the analysis of machines, thermal systems and mechanical design. Almost every accredited U.S. mechanical engineering BS is ABET-EAC. Mechatronics puts mechanical, electrical, controls and software in one program. That can be EAC engineering (CIP 14.4201) or ETAC technology (CIP 15.0407). Read ABET EAC vs ETAC.
| Mechanical engineering BS | Mechatronics AAS | Mechatronics BS (engineering CIP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical CIP | 14.1901 | 15.0407 | 14.4201 |
| Typical ABET | EAC | Usually none at associate | EAC if accredited |
| BLS occupation this site uses | 17-2141, median $104,110 | 17-3024, median $73,900 | No dedicated SOC |
| PE | Standard path | Not the point | Confirm EAC and the state board |
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. CIP awards: IPEDS Completions 2024.
If the goal is an engineer title with a published wage, online mechanical engineering and online electrical engineering are the coded paths. If the goal is plant-floor automation from a trade, the AAS is the practical first credential.
We do not have campus-based schools on record for this exact area right now. School availability changes as programs open and close, and many programs in this field enroll online - see the main program page for options that are not tied to your location. Know a school we missed? Tell us.
Related
- How to become a mechatronics engineer
- Mechatronics bachelor’s
- Which engineering degree fits your trade
- Mechatronics careers and coded wages
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025, SOC 17-2141 and 17-3024
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions 2024, CIP 14.4201 and 15.0407
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.