SOC 17-3026.01

    Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

    Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition.

    Median pay
    $66,120
    Growth
    +3.1%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    6,600
    Typical education
    Associate's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Industrial engineering technologists and technicians"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $47,300
    Median
    $66,120
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $99,150
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    75,570 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Nanotechnology engineering technologists and technicians run production processes and use advanced microscopy equipment to make and test materials at the molecular level. The median annual pay for this field is $66,120.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What nanotechnology engineering technologists and technicians do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    These professionals work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff to implement production processes and operate commercial-scale equipment. They manipulate nanoscale objects, test unique macromolecular materials, and inspect equipment or materials to ensure quality. Day-to-day activities involve working with computers, getting information, analyzing data, and documenting their findings. They also monitor processes, solve complex problems, and train or teach others in the workplace.

    This career fits people with strong realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work. Succeeding in this role requires skills like critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, science, and troubleshooting. Technicians must apply knowledge of engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computers. Important work styles include a high attention to detail, dependability, cautiousness, intellectual curiosity, and perseverance when dealing with precise molecular systems.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, the typical education level required is an associate's degree. However, according to O*NET, most professionals in the field need a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience.

    Students preparing for this career path typically choose college majors in industrial production technologies or technicians, general engineering technologies or technicians, engineering-related fields, or quality control and safety technologies or technicians. There are no specific certifications, licenses, or professional associations listed as requirements to enter this field.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for this occupation was $66,120. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $47,300, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,150. These wage figures represent the broader BLS group of industrial engineering technologists and technicians.

    There are 75,570 people employed in this field. Employment is projected to grow by 3.1 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. About 6,600 job openings are expected each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    86 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    66 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    9 / 100
    Social (S)
    1 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    17 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    64 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    88
    Getting Information
    86
    Training and Teaching Others
    86
    Analyzing Data or Information
    83
    Documenting/Recording Information
    82
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    80
    Processing Information
    79
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    78
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    78
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    77
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Critical Thinking
    • Writing
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Science
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Systems Analysis
    • Troubleshooting
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • English Language
    • Chemistry
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mathematics
    • Education and Training
    • Physics
    • Production and Processing
    • Design
    • Mechanical

    Abilities

    • Written Comprehension
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Integrity
    • Adaptability
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Innovation
    • Perseverance
    • Tolerance for Ambiguity

    Also called

    Cleanroom Operator · Cleanroom Technician (Cleanroom Tech) · Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) · Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician) · Nanofabrication Specialist · Nanoscience Technician (Nanoscience Tech) · Nanotechnician · Nanotechnologist · Nanotechnology Engineering Technician (Nanotechnology Engineering Tech) · Nanotechnology Technician (Nanotechnology Tech)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to nanotechnology engineering technologists and technicians

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,120 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      New York University NYU

      New York, NY · Engineering-Related Fields · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,429
      4 yrs after
      $114,572
      Median debt
      $19,000
    2. 2Brigham Young University-Idaho logo
      Brigham Young University-Idaho

      Rexburg, ID · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,259
      4 yrs after
      $103,769
      Median debt
      $12,943
    3. 3Arizona State University Campus Immersion logo
      Arizona State University Campus Immersion

      Tempe, AZ · Engineering-Related Fields · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $83,182
      4 yrs after
      $102,320
      Median debt
      $26,968
    4. 4Arizona State University Digital Immersion logo
      Arizona State University Digital Immersion

      Scottsdale, AZ · Engineering-Related Fields · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $83,182
      4 yrs after
      $102,320
      Median debt
      $26,968
    5. 5Stevens Institute of Technology logo
      Stevens Institute of Technology

      Hoboken, NJ · Engineering-Related Fields · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $101,798
      Median debt
      $23,250
    6. 6University of Arizona Main Campus logo
      University of Arizona Main Campus

      Tucson, AZ · Engineering-Related Fields · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $101,557
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7Miami University-Oxford logo
      Miami University-Oxford

      Oxford, OH · Engineering-Related Fields · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $99,473
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8
      SUNY Buffalo State

      Buffalo, NY · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $98,018
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What nanotechnology engineering technologists and technicians may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians
    • Engineering/Industrial Management
    • Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other
    • Industrial Safety Technology/Technician
    • Industrial Technology/Technician
    • Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
    • Packaging Science
    • Process Safety Technology/Technician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about nanotechnology engineering technologists and technicians

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are often called cleanroom technicians, nanofabrication specialists, nanotechnologists, and nanoscience technicians.

    What is the job outlook and employment growth for this field?

    Employment is projected to grow 3.1 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all jobs. There are about 6,600 openings projected each year.

    What level of education do I need to start working in this occupation?

    While an associate's degree is the typical entry-level education, most working professionals actually need a bachelor's degree and several years of experience.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.