Engineering
Mechatronics Engineers
Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.
Median salary (BLS)
$122,930
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$67k – $190k
Job outlook
+2% (about average)
AI exposure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 8 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $99,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Mechatronics Engineers
Education
Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateCost to qualify
$40,175–$150,500
Time to qualify
4.2 yr
Renewal
—
- 1
Bachelor's degree
DegreeFour years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.
$40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source
- 2
FE exam (optional — PE track)
CertificationThe Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the first step toward a PE license; many engineering roles never need it.
$175–$500 · 2 months source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "Mechatronics Engineers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Mechatronics Engineers Intern
Internship
$36,000
~4 mos to advance
Junior Mechatronics Engineers
Entry / Junior
$66,810
~2 yrs to advance
Mechatronics Engineers
Established
$122,930
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Mechatronics Engineers
Senior
$156,440
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •Create mechanical design documents for parts, assemblies, or finished products.
- •Design advanced precision equipment for accurate or controlled applications.
- •Design engineering systems for the automation of industrial tasks.
- •Implement or test design solutions.
- •Maintain technical project files.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Engineering
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- Georgia Institute of Technology16% admit · $99,000 grad pay
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign45% admit · $80,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.