How to Become a Mechatronics Engineer (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Quick answer: A mechatronics engineer title is real on job boards. BLS has no SOC for it, so this site does not publish a mechatronics-engineer salary. The usual path is an ABET-EAC bachelor’s (mechatronics CIP 14.4201, or mechanical / electrical engineering), then the FE and, if the state requires it, a PE. That bachelor’s is typically four years full-time. The coded technician rung is SOC 17-3024 at a median of $73,900 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). If that is the job, start at mechatronics technician.

Mechatronics is the stack that runs an automated cell: mechanical power transmission, electrical controls, and the software that times them. Engineer-titled roles decide what that cell is and prove it on paper. Technician roles install, program, troubleshoot and keep it running. This guide is the engineer path. The technician path is a different page.

How to Become a Mechatronics Engineer

Most people who hold this title got there through a four-year ABET-accredited bachelor’s, not a two-year associate and not a master’s as the first step. There is no national mechatronics license. A PE is a state-board process, and only some jobs need it.

1. Earn a high school diploma or GED

A diploma or GED is the usual floor for bachelor’s admission. Algebra and physics show up in statics, circuits and controls. Shop, robotics or electronics classes help, but they are not a substitute for the degree. If you already work as a millwright, CNC machinist or industrial maintenance technician, you can skip this step and go to program selection. Bring transcripts, apprenticeship hours and any platform certificates; ask the school in writing what they will count.

2. Decide the job, not the title

Read the posting. If the work is install, teach a robot, chase I/O and keep a line up, that is mechatronics technician work, usually an AAS. If the work is design the cell, specify the drives, own the safety circuit and stamp drawings, that is this page. Mixing the two is how people spend four years on a degree for a job that hired the two-year credential.

3. Earn an ABET-EAC bachelor’s

This is the credential the engineer title sits on. Compare mechatronics bachelor’s programs, then confirm two things in ABET’s public directory, not a homepage badge:

CIP 14.4201 (mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering) is the engineering title, typically ABET-EAC.
CIP 15.0407 (mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering technology) is engineering technology, typically ABET-ETAC.

IPEDS Completions 2024: 45 institutions awarded a bachelor’s in 14.4201; 5 awarded a bachelor’s in 15.0407. Associate awards concentrate in 15.0407 (46 institutions) rather than 14.4201 (21).

If you want a coded occupation with a published wage and a standard PE path, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering are the adjacent degrees. Side-by-side: mechatronics vs mechanical engineering. Commission split: ABET EAC vs ETAC.

4. Confirm labs and transfer credit in writing

Controls theory, PLC logic and industrial networking transfer to online and hybrid delivery. Robot cells, drives and hydraulic trainers usually do not. Ask where the capstone hardware lives and whether you have to travel for it.

If you already have an AAS, ask how many credits transfer into this bachelor’s. ETAC programs often take more of that credit. EAC engineering programs often take less. Get the answer in writing before you enroll.

5. Sit the FE exam if a PE is even possible

The Fundamentals of Engineering exam, taken as a senior or right after graduation, starts the Engineer-in-Training clock. Take it while the coursework is fresh. Product and plant jobs may never need a PE. Utility, consulting and stamped-drawing jobs usually do. Skipping the FE closes those doors later. Platform badges (FANUC, ABB, Siemens and similar) are optional add-ons, not a license. Details: certifications.

6. Gain qualifying experience, then the PE only if required

Experience rules, exams and titles are set by your state engineering licensing board. Typical sequence: accredited engineering degree, FE, qualifying experience, PE exam. Some boards accept ETAC graduates with extra experience. Some do not. Confirm before you enroll, not after.

Do not start with a master’s. That is a later rung.

How long does training take?

Your starting point	Typical path	Time to engineer-titled work
High school diploma / GED	ABET-EAC bachelor’s (CIP 14.4201 or mechanical / electrical)	About 4 years full-time
Working adult	Same bachelor’s, part-time or hybrid	Commonly 5 to 6 years
AAS already in hand	Transfer into ETAC or EAC bachelor’s	Shorter if the school accepts the credits in writing
Plant-floor technician aiming at the posting, not the title	Stay on the AAS / technician path	About 2 years

These are typical ranges. Part-time study, hybrid labs and transfer credit can shorten or extend them. A PE, if required, sits on top of the degree.

Engineer vs technician

	Technician / technologist	Engineer-titled role
Typical credential	Mechatronics AAS	Mechatronics bachelor’s or mechanical / electrical BS
Typical CIP	15.0407 (engineering technology)	14.4201 (engineering) or 14.1901 / 14.1001
ABET	Often none at associate; ETAC if a BSET	EAC if you want a standard PE path
BLS occupation this site uses	17-3024, median $73,900	Mechanical $104,110, electrical $120,630, electronics $130,220, only if that is the job
License	None	PE only if the state and the work require it

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. CIP awards: IPEDS Completions 2024. Full table and the 17-2199 warning: mechatronics careers.

What Mechatronics Engineers Do

The title on the posting is not a federal occupation. The work is: specify and integrate the mechanical, electrical and software pieces of an automated cell, then prove the design is safe and buildable.

Day to day that can mean:

Selecting robots, drives, sensors and PLCs that actually fit the cell
Writing or reviewing control logic and industrial-network architecture
Owning guarding, e-stop and safety-circuit design
Producing drawings, calculations and test plans other people will build from
Commissioning with the controls and maintenance crew, then handing the cell off

If you are coming off the floor, the shortest split is this: you currently install and troubleshoot to the print; the engineer decides what the print says. Same stack as the technician job, different ownership.

Typical work settings

Manufacturing plants and OEM equipment builders
Robot and automation integrators
Packaging, automotive, semiconductor and food-production lines
Engineering consultancies that stamp drawings
Labs and R&D groups attached to those employers

Skills That Make a Great Mechatronics Engineer

PLC logic (ladder and structured text) and industrial networking
Robot programming, work envelopes and safeguarding
Motor, drive and motion-control fundamentals
Mechanical fundamentals: power transmission, alignment, pneumatics and hydraulics
CAD for cells and one-lines, plus enough analysis to defend a calculation
Writing: design basis, commissioning records and change orders carry the job
The habit of checking ABET commission, CIP and the state board before you trust a program name

Education and Licensing Paths

Pathway	Typical duration	Outcome
Mechatronics AAS	About 2 years	Technician / technologist hire-against credential
Mechatronics BS, ETAC	About 4 years	Applied bachelor’s; PE is state-by-state
Mechatronics BS, EAC (CIP 14.4201)	About 4 years	Standard engineering bachelor’s for this title
Mechanical or electrical BS	About 4 years	Coded engineer occupations with published wages
FE then PE	Board-required experience after the degree	License only if the state and the work require it
Master’s	After a bachelor’s	Later rung, not the floor-to-engineer on-ramp

Coded pay (not a mechatronics-engineer salary)

There is no official mechatronics-engineer wage. Use the code for the job you would actually hold.

Occupation	SOC	Median wage	10th / 90th percentile	Employment	Projected change 2024-34	Openings/year
Mechanical engineers	17-2141	$104,110	$73,990 / $164,340	296,810	9.1%	18,100
Electrical engineers	17-2071	$120,630	$76,550 / $184,300	198,750	7.2%	11,700
Electronics engineers, except computer	17-2072	$130,220	n/a	96,900	6.2%	5,700
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians	17-3024	$73,900	$47,840 / $109,890	15,520	1.1%	1,300

Wages and employment: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Projections: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34. Electronics 10th/90th percentiles are omitted here because this page does not carry a sourced pair for 17-2072.

Engineers, All Other (17-2199) is a residual category. It is not a mechatronics-engineer census. Worth-it math without that error: is a mechatronics degree worth it.

State wage tables exist for the coded occupations, not for this title:

Mechanical engineer by state
Electrical engineer by state
Technologist state wages: robotics technician and mechatronics programs by state

Career growth

With the bachelor’s in hand, postings you will actually see include:

Mechatronics / robotics / automation engineer as a job-board title (no separate BLS wage)
Mechanical engineer if the work is machines, tooling and thermal systems
Electrical engineer or electronics engineer if the work is power, controls or devices
Project or applications engineer at an integrator
PE only where the board and the drawings require a stamp

Trade experience compresses onboarding. It does not replace the degree for engineer-titled roles.

Do You Need a PE License?

There is no mechatronics license. A PE is a professional engineer license issued by a state board.

Technician work does not need one.
Many OEM and plant roles sit under an industrial exemption: the company holds design responsibility.
Work that submits stamped drawings to an authority typically needs a PE.

Path: accredited engineering degree, FE exam, qualifying experience, PE exam, in that state’s rules. ETAC graduates sometimes sit with extra experience. Sometimes they cannot. Confirm with the board. See ABET EAC vs ETAC and certifications.

Cost and Duration of Training

Time: bachelor’s typically 120 credit hours; four years full-time, commonly five to six part-time while working. AAS about two years.
Tuition: varies by school, public vs private, in-state vs out-of-state, and online vs campus. Request current pricing from the program. Do not budget from a ranking page.
Transfer: prior college, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certificates can count. Get a written evaluation.
PE: exam and application fees are set by NCEES and the state board; look them up there, not here.
Employer tuition assistance is common in plants that already employ you. Ask before you enroll.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Coded adjacent engineer medians are $104,110 (mechanical) and $120,630 (electrical) (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Plant-floor experience is a real hiring advantage on commissioning and design-for-build
No state mechatronics license; the credential is portable if the employer accepts it
Hybrid bachelor's programs exist for working adults

Cons

BLS has no mechatronics-engineer wage, so you cannot honestly quote "the" salary
Four-year degree is the usual requirement for the title
EAC vs ETAC and PE rules are easy to get wrong if you only read the brochure
Labs are often hybrid; fully online is the exception

Take the first step

If the posting is technician work, start with the AAS. If it is engineer-titled work, start with an EAC bachelor’s, confirm ABET, and keep the FE in view. Program directory: mechatronics programs.

Industry Organizations & Certifying Bodies

These are the recognized national organizations, unions, certifying bodies, and regulatory authorities that shape this trade. They issue the credentials, sponsor the apprenticeships, publish the codes, and represent workers and employers.

ABET Accredits engineering (EAC) and engineering-technology (ETAC) programs. Confirm the commission in the public directory.
NCEES Develops the FE and PE exams. State engineering boards set experience and eligibility.
IEEE Professional society for electrical, electronics and control systems engineers.
ASME Professional society for mechanical engineers; codes and standards used on equipment and pressure systems.
SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) Manufacturing and automation professional society; education and industry credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a mechatronics engineer?

An ABET-EAC bachelor's is typically four years full-time, and commonly five to six years part-time while working. An associate is typically two years and is the technician credential, not the engineer track. A PE, if you need one, adds the FE exam, board-required experience, and the PE exam on top of the degree.

Do you need a college degree to work as a mechatronics engineer?

For the engineer title, yes in most cases. Employers that post mechatronics engineer, robotics engineer or automation engineer usually want a four-year ABET-accredited bachelor's. Without it, the ceiling is technician or technologist work. Trade experience shortens the degree; it does not replace it.

Is there a BLS salary for mechatronics engineers?

No. Job postings use the title. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not assigned mechatronics engineer a detailed SOC. Do not use residual Engineers, All Other (17-2199) as that wage. If the job is mechanical, electrical or electronics engineering, use that coded occupation.

How much do related engineering jobs pay?

Mechanical engineers have a national median of $104,110 (SOC 17-2141). Electrical engineers $120,630 (17-2071). Electronics engineers, except computer, $130,220 (17-2072). Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians $73,900 (17-3024) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do mechatronics engineers need a PE license?

Only if the work is licensed engineering in that state. Product and plant roles often sit under an industrial exemption. Utility, consulting and stamped-drawing work typically needs a PE. The path is an accredited engineering degree, the FE exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam. Confirm with your state engineering licensing board.

What is the difference between a mechatronics engineer and a mechatronics technician?

The technician/technologist rung is coded: electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians, median $73,900 (SOC 17-3024, BLS OEWS, May 2025). That work is install, program, troubleshoot and maintain. Engineer-titled roles design and prove the cell. Most people enter technician work through an associate. Engineer titles typically want a four-year EAC bachelor's.

Can I become a mechatronics engineer from the plant floor?

Yes as a longer path. Many people start as a mechatronics technician, millwright, machinist or industrial maintenance technician, then complete an EAC bachelor's or an ETAC bachelor's plus whatever extra the state board requires. Request a written transfer evaluation before you enroll.

Can you train as a mechatronics engineer online?

Controls theory, PLC logic, industrial networking and math can be online or hybrid. Robot cells, drives and hydraulic trainers are usually on campus. Confirm the lab format and any residency before you enroll.

Should I get an AAS first?

If the posting is technician work, the associate is the shorter hire-against credential. A bachelor's makes sense when you need the engineer title, PE-track coursework, or a plant that posts a four-year requirement.

Degree and Program Guides

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 17-2141, 17-2071, 17-2072, 17-3024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions 2024, CIP 14.4201 and 15.0407
ABET, Engineering Accreditation Commission and Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission
NCEES, FE and PE examinations (state boards set experience and eligibility)

Mechatronics Engineer Salary by State

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/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)