- Business Insider ranked the pay of engineering and architecture jobs that don't need a bachelor's degree.
- Most typically needed an associate degree, and pay ranged from about $52,000 to about $80,000.
- These jobs included different kinds of technicians, technologists, and drafters.
Even if you don't have a bachelor's degree, you might still be able to land a job in industrial, mechanical, aerospace, and other kinds of engineering.
Business Insider looked at typical education requirements for engineering and architecture jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and ranked the median annual wages among roles that usually only need an associate degree or a high school diploma. We excluded two catch-all occupation titles due to a lack of specificity.
None of the 12 jobs that fit the criteria hit a six-figure median. Their typical pay ranged from about $52,000 to about $80,000, based on 2024 wage data.
Below are the ranked jobs, including employment and wage figures from last year.
12. Surveying and mapping technicians
Typical requirement: High school diploma or equivalent
Employment: 56,720
Annual wage: $51,940
11. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 12,500
Annual wage: $58,890
10. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 62,130
Annual wage: $64,200
9. Architectural and civil drafters
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 109,550
Annual wage: $64,280
8. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 73,410
Annual wage: $64,790
7. Calibration technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 15,320
Annual wage: $65,040
6. Mechanical drafters
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 39,900
Annual wage: $68,510
5. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 37,450
Annual wage: $68,730
4. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 14,680
Annual wage: $70,760
3. Electrical and electronics drafters
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 20,020
Annual wage: $73,720
2. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 92,710
Annual wage: $77,180
1. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
Typical requirement: Associate degree
Employment: 9,060
Annual wage: $79,830
