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High Performance Engine Mechanic

Types of Degrees High Performance Engine Mechanic Majors Are Earning

People majoring in High Performance Engine Mechanic may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	106
Associate’s Degree	278
Master’s Degree	86

What High Performance Engine Mechanic Majors Need to Know

Programs in High Performance Engine Mechanic develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing High Performance Engine Mechanic emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a High Performance Engine Mechanic program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Troubleshooting — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to High Performance Engine Mechanic careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.0 / 7
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.9 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.8 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by High Performance Engine Mechanic professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Internet browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Vehicle management software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Recordkeeping software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
IBM Notes	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates include:

• Automotive Technician (Auto Tech)
• Ignition Mechanic
• Auto Tune Up Mechanic (Automotive Tune Up Mechanic)
• Transmission Specialist
• Quick Lube Tech (Quick Lubrication Technician)
• Engine Mechanic
• Auto Radiator Specialist (Automotive Radiator Specialist)
• New Car Get-Ready Mechanic
• Automotive Accessories Installer (Auto Accessory Installer)
• Rattle Repairer
• Make Ready Mechanic
• Oil Bay Technician
• Safety Belt Installer
• Line Mechanic
• Light Adjuster

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	47.3%
Postsecondary certificate	35.1%
Some college courses	10.3%
Bachelor’s degree	3.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.1%
Less than a high school diploma	1.2%
Doctoral degree	0.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in High Performance Engine Mechanic?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 94.9% of High Performance Engine Mechanic degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	24	5.1%
Men	446	94.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	268	57.0%
Asian	69	14.7%
Hispanic or Latino	49	10.4%
Black or African American	15	3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	6	1.3%
Two or More Races	49	10.4%
Race Unknown	9	1.9%
International Students	4	0.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do High Performance Engine Mechanic Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$37,744
4 years	$43,612
5 years	$49,558

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $49,558 — roughly 31% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in High Performance Engine Mechanic Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates earn a median of $43,612 four years after completion — roughly 15% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	74,567
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician	41,728
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician	9,859
Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician	7,637
Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician	5,464
Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician	3,372
Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician	2,100
Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician	896
Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician	799
Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician	719
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	630
Mechanics and Repairers, General	433

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.