Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other.

Degree Overview

Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (CIP 15.1199) is a flexible category designed for highly specialized technical roles that integrate multiple engineering disciplines to support unique industries. While a traditional technician might stay within the bounds of a single department, professionals in this "Other" category are "Technical Versatilists" who manage the maintenance, operation, and optimization of complex, one-of-a-kind systems. This major is often the home for emerging fields such as Renewable Energy Tech, Smart Building Integration, or Advanced Transportation Systems that are too new or cross-functional for standard classification.

This field is ideal for "multidisciplinary fixers"—individuals who enjoy learning how different technical worlds (like hydraulics, software, and electronics) collide to create a functioning system.

What Is an "Other" Engineering-Related Technology Degree?

A degree in this category is an applied STEM path that emphasizes hands-on systems integration and specialized technical support. You will study the fundamental "building blocks" of engineering—physics, drafting, and mathematics—but your curriculum is tailored to a specific, often high-growth, niche. It prepares you to be a "Master Technician" who understands how to maintain the infrastructure of the future, from automated vertical farms to the next generation of high-speed rail or hydrogen fuel cells.

Schools offer this degree to:

• Train "Specialized Systems Operators" for niche industries like underwater robotics or theater technology
• Develop experts in Sustainability Technology, focusing on the installation and repair of green energy grids
• Prepare professionals for Custom Technical Roles in research and development laboratories
• Study Advanced Facilities Engineering, managing the high-tech environments of data centers or "smart" stadiums

What Will You Learn?

Students learn that modern technology is a "web"; they focus on how to keep every strand of that web functioning so the entire system remains operational.

Core Skills You’ll Build

Most students learn to:

• Master Systems Level Troubleshooting—identifying whether a failure is caused by a mechanical part, an electrical circuit, or a software error
• Use "Diagnostic and Calibration Tools" to ensure that precision sensors are providing accurate data
• Design Custom Tooling and Fixtures to help engineers build and test new prototypes
• Perform Preventative Maintenance Planning—using data to fix machines before they break
• Utilize Technical Communication to translate complex data for managers and clients
• Understand Safety and Regulatory Protocols unique to specialized industrial environments

Topics You May Explore

Coursework is highly varied but generally includes a blend of several technical worlds:

• Integrated Circuitry: Understanding the boards and chips that control modern equipment.
• Applied Mechanics: The physics of gears, pulleys, and the structural integrity of machines.
• Data Acquisition Systems: Learning how to collect and interpret signals from the physical world.
• Renewable Systems: Exploring the mechanics of solar, wind, and battery storage technology.
• Process Control: Studying the automated "loops" that keep chemical or water plants running.
• Industrial Materials: Understanding how composites, plastics, and alloys react in extreme environments.

What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?

Graduates find roles as high-level technicians, field service leads, and technical project coordinators.

Common job roles include:

• Systems Integration Technician: Connecting and testing diverse components of a new technical system.
• Specialized Field Engineer: Traveling to maintain proprietary technology that generalists cannot service.
• R&D Support Specialist: Working alongside research engineers to build and refine new inventions.
• Data Center Technician: Managing the complex cooling, power, and hardware systems of the digital world.
• Technical Sales Support: Using deep product knowledge to help companies choose the right engineering solutions.
• Operations Lead: Managing the technical team at a specialized facility, such as a water treatment plant or an EV charging network.

Where Can You Work?

These specialists are the "secret weapon" for companies working on the edge of innovation:

• Tech Giants: Managing the physical infrastructure of companies like Google, Meta, or Microsoft.
• Clean Energy Firms: Working on the cutting edge of wind, solar, and geothermal energy.
• Aerospace and Logistics: Maintaining the automated systems for firms like Amazon or Blue Origin.
• Medical and Bio-Tech Facilities: Managing the highly regulated equipment in pharmaceutical or imaging labs.
• Specialized Government Agencies: Supporting the technical needs of NASA, NOAA, or the Department of Energy.

How Much Can You Earn?

Because of the specialized nature of these roles, salaries are often higher than those of general technicians.

• Specialized Systems Technologists: Median annual salary of approximately $65,000–$90,000.
• Senior Field Leads: Salaries typically range from $80,000 to $115,000+.
• R&D Technical Assistants: Median annual salary of around $70,000–$95,000.
• Entry-Level Junior Technicians: Often start between $50,000 and $65,000.

Is This Degree Hard?

The difficulty is in the variety of knowledge required. You cannot afford to be "only" a computer person or "only" a mechanical person. You must be comfortable moving between a laptop, a multimeter, and a wrench. It requires a flexible and curious mindset—you must be someone who enjoys the "puzzle" of how different technologies talk to each other. It is a lab-heavy major that rewards students who are self-starters and enjoy learning new tools as they are invented.

Who Should Consider This Degree?

This degree may be a good fit if you:

• Like to be a "jack of all trades" who can fix anything you are handed
• Are interested in "the future"—clean energy, smart cities, or space exploration
• Enjoy a mix of computer-based data analysis and physical, hands-on work
• Want a career that allows you to work in different environments rather than a single factory line
• Are a "natural tinkerer" who loves understanding how the parts make the whole

How to Prepare in High School

• Take Algebra, Geometry, and Physics; they are the "logic" of all engineering systems
• Join a robotics, "Maker," or science club to practice cross-disciplinary building
• Learn basic programming (Python or Arduino); software is the "glue" of modern tech
• Get comfortable with Technical Reading—practice reading manuals or schematics for fun
• Look into emerging industries to see which specialized path excites you most

The ability to master the intersection of diverse technologies and provide high-level support for the world's most specialized systems is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.