Life As an Automotive Engineering Technician
Example of Automotive Engineering Technician Job 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 Do On a Daily Basis?
- Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
- Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts.
- Recommend tests or testing conditions in accordance with designs, customer requirements, or industry standards to ensure test validity.
- Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes.
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What an Automotive Engineering Technician Should Know
Automotive Engineering Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician)
- Test Engineer
- Emissions Engineer
- Auto Design Checker
- Research Technician
Automotive Engineering Technician Job Outlook
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,200 job openings in this field each 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.
How Much Does an Automotive Engineering Technician Make?
Automotive Engineering Technicians make between $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 |
What Tools do Automotive Engineering Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Automotive Engineering Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming an Automotive Engineering Technician
Education needed to be an Automotive Engineering Technician:

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

Where Automotive Engineering Technicians Are Employed

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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