Life As an Automotive Engineering Technician
Career Description Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
List of Automotive Engineering Technician Job Duties
- Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations.
- Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
- Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed.
- Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
- Test performance of vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as alcohol blends, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biodiesel, nano diesel, or alternative power methods, such as solar energy or hydrogen fuel cells.
- Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
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Automotive Engineering Technician Needed Skills
These are the skills Automotive Engineering Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Types of Automotive Engineering Technician Jobs
- Test Engineer
- Emissions Engineer
- Durability Technician
- Auto Design Checker
- Automotive Engineering Technician
Is There Job Demand for Automotive Engineering Technicians?
In the United States, there were 46,100 jobs for Automotive Engineering Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,300 new jobs for Automotive Engineering Technician by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,200 positions for Automotive Engineering Technician per year.

The states with the most job growth for Automotive Engineering Technician are Utah, Connecticut, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Automotive Engineering Technician
The salary for Automotive Engineering Technicians ranges between about $34,900 and $85,430 a year.

Automotive Engineering Technicians who work in Louisiana, New Mexico, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
How much do Automotive Engineering Technicians make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $57,670 |
Alaska | $65,050 |
Arizona | $57,620 |
Arkansas | $53,860 |
California | $62,510 |
Colorado | $68,690 |
Connecticut | $69,900 |
District of Columbia | $55,820 |
Florida | $50,360 |
Georgia | $55,540 |
Idaho | $54,740 |
Illinois | $60,940 |
Indiana | $53,430 |
Iowa | $51,710 |
Kansas | $55,210 |
Kentucky | $50,510 |
Louisiana | $82,350 |
Maine | $62,720 |
Maryland | $61,790 |
Massachusetts | $60,100 |
Michigan | $55,470 |
Minnesota | $58,940 |
Mississippi | $61,630 |
Missouri | $51,850 |
Montana | $55,070 |
Nebraska | $56,070 |
Nevada | $67,610 |
New Hampshire | $55,160 |
New Jersey | $55,090 |
New Mexico | $79,530 |
New York | $60,000 |
North Carolina | $54,810 |
North Dakota | $59,350 |
Ohio | $54,660 |
Oklahoma | $58,630 |
Oregon | $51,860 |
Pennsylvania | $54,640 |
Rhode Island | $59,180 |
South Carolina | $58,790 |
South Dakota | $43,310 |
Tennessee | $55,730 |
Texas | $67,740 |
Utah | $54,060 |
Vermont | $53,420 |
Virginia | $60,860 |
Washington | $65,300 |
West Virginia | $54,950 |
Wisconsin | $52,140 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Automotive Engineering Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Automotive Engineering Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- SAP
- IBM Notes
- Computer aided design CAD software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- PTC Creo Parametric
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Data acquisition software
- Autodesk Inventor
- Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
How to Become an Automotive Engineering Technician
What kind of Automotive Engineering Technician requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Automotive Engineering Technician?

Where do Automotive Engineering Technicians Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Automotive Engineering Technicians employed by various industries.

References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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