Robots don't fix themselves. Automated production lines need skilled hands, sharp minds, and people who understand the intersection of mechanics, electronics, and technology. Fayetteville Technical Community College is producing exactly that kind of professional, and North Carolina's top employers are taking notice.
Through its Industrial Systems Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology programs, FTCC is answering an urgent statewide call from manufacturers, semiconductor companies, automotive facilities, and automation-driven industries that are desperately competing for qualified workers. The skills gap is real, the jobs are waiting, and FTCC has the training to bridge the two.
North Carolina's manufacturing and industrial sectors have undergone a dramatic transformation. The rapid integration of robotics, automation, and digital control systems has created an entirely new class of "multi-craft professionals". Workers who can bridge mechanics, electronics, and computer systems all at once. Employers across the state, from automotive giants to cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturers, are in a full-scale race to fill critical maintenance and technical roles, and they simply cannot find enough qualified candidates. This isn't a trend. It's a crisis of talent, and it represents your opportunity for credentials that open doors.
FTCC offers multiple pathways into this high-growth field, giving students the flexibility to launch their career at their own pace:
• Associate in Applied Science - Industrial Systems Technology
• Associate in Applied Science - Mechatronics Engineering Technology
• Basic Mechanical Maintenance Certificate
• Electrical PLC Applications Certificate
• Mechanical Maintenance Certificate
Whether you're seeking a quick credential to get on the floor fast or a full associate degree to climb the career ladder, FTCC has a program designed for your goals that provides real training, real skills, and opportunities for real jobs.
Forget passive classroom learning. FTCC students get their hands dirty from day one. Industrial Systems Technology students gain experience with hydraulics, pneumatics, electricity, welding, mechanical maintenance, and print reading, all while performing real-world diagnostics and assembly on training devices that replicate actual industrial systems. Mechatronics students combine electrical and mechanical knowledge with robotics, lean manufacturing, and design experience while developing the exact skill set that automation-driven industries demand most. This is training you can feel, see, and take straight to the job site.
And the payoff is a salary reflective of your time and commitment to the trade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that industrial machinery mechanics earn a median annual wage of $61,420, with top earners reaching $85,970 per year. Mechatronics and electromechanical technicians earn approximately $32 per hour, translating to roughly $65,000 annually in a career field that generates approximately 1,300 job openings every year nationwide. Graduates from FTCC's Industrial Systems Technology program can expect starting salaries ranging from $50,000 to $60,000, a figure that grows with experience, certification, and specialization.
Crucially, these careers are largely insulated from outsourcing and economic volatility. Automation maintenance and design demand on-site, hands-on expertise that cannot be shipped overseas.
Even as overall job growth projections remain steady, the BLS projects approximately 1,300 annual openings for mechatronics and electromechanical technicians each year, driven significantly by the need to replace a retiring workforce and fill newly created roles in expanding industries. For industrial machinery mechanics, the national median wage of $61,420 far outpaces the median wage for all occupations of $49,500. The demand is not coming; it is already here.
Nearly all of FTCC's technical graduates either secure employment in their field shortly after graduation or even before they walk across the stage, or continue their education at four-year institutions.
FTCC's commitment to affordable, accessible, and career-focused education has made it a cornerstone of North Carolina's workforce development strategy. These programs don't just teach you a trade; they position you as an irreplaceable professional in the industries powering tomorrow's economy.
Don't wait for opportunity to find you. Contact FTCC today for more information about the Industrial Systems Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology programs, including certificates in Basic Mechanical Maintenance, Electrical PLC Applications, and Mechanical Maintenance. Industrial Systems & Mechatronics Engineering Department Chair Darius Wilkins can be reached at wilkinsd@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-1064.
Apply today at www.faytechcc.ed.