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Automotive Engineering Technicians: Career Profile
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.
What Do Automotive Engineering Technicians Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of automotive engineering technicians span:
- Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
- Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
- Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
- Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
- Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful automotive engineering technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Automotive Engineering Technicians Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Automotive Design Checker (Auto Design Checker)
- Automotive Engineering Technician
- Automotive Technician (Auto Technician)
- Automotive Test Technician (Auto Test Technician)
- Durability Technician
- Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician)
- Performance Technician
- Research Technician
Employment and Demand
There are about 192,103 automotive engineering technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +0.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Automotive Engineering Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $89,794 |
| Hourly median | $43.17 |
| 10th percentile | $62,095 |
| 25th percentile | $75,945 |
| 75th percentile | $103,643 |
| 90th percentile | $117,492 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $100,430 |
| New Mexico | $87,800 |
| Indiana | $83,200 |
| California | $82,210 |
| Colorado | $81,700 |
| Rhode Island | $81,400 |
| Missouri | $81,200 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 |
| Nebraska | $77,900 |
| District of Columbia | $77,270 |
| Maryland | $76,890 |
| New York | $75,680 |
| Maine | $75,150 |
| Texas | $74,330 |
| Illinois | $74,010 |
| Washington | $73,980 |
| Oregon | $73,690 |
| Minnesota | $72,800 |
| New Jersey | $71,230 |
| Mississippi | $70,300 |
| North Dakota | $69,680 |
| Tennessee | $68,640 |
| Arizona | $68,280 |
| New Hampshire | $67,890 |
| Kentucky | $67,780 |
| Idaho | $67,600 |
| Ohio | $67,510 |
| Massachusetts | $66,950 |
| Iowa | $66,160 |
| Wisconsin | $66,150 |
| Georgia | $66,100 |
| Delaware | $65,800 |
| Nevada | $64,960 |
| Florida | $64,810 |
| South Carolina | $64,010 |
| Virginia | $63,860 |
| Michigan | $63,130 |
| Oklahoma | $63,090 |
| North Carolina | $62,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,550 |
| Alabama | $61,220 |
| West Virginia | $61,040 |
| Utah | $60,830 |
| Kansas | $59,540 |
| South Dakota | $51,480 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,450 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for automotive engineering technicians shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $77,362 | 14.2% | 0.91 |
| Southwest | $73,574 | 8.2% | 0.71 |
| Plains States | $71,618 | 7.2% | 1.15 |
| New England | $70,814 | 4.9% | 1.61 |
| Middle Atlantic | $69,162 | 12.6% | 1.06 |
| Great Lakes | $68,427 | 32.6% | 3.25 |
| Southeast | $67,322 | 15.4% | 0.80 |
| Rocky Mountains | $66,562 | 4.6% | 2.14 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $130,220 | 200 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $108,820 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $106,940 | 140 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | IA | $102,200 | 160 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $98,850 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $97,800 | 670 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $97,130 | 40 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | TX | $96,960 | 50 |
Top Industries Employing Automotive Engineering Technicians
Most automotive engineering technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19,270 | $69,640 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10,280 | $72,560 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,350 | $59,350 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,790 | $61,960 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 930 | $76,360 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 590 | $78,390 |
| Educational Services | 430 | $54,750 |
| Utilities | 250 | $94,270 |
Automotive Engineering Technicians work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of automotive engineering technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level automotive engineering technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Aerospace Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Validation Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Automotive Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future automotive engineering technicians typically earn programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
4 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3027.01 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians).
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