Automotive Engineering Technicians: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Automotive Engineering Technicians Do?
Typical responsibilities of automotive engineering technicians include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful automotive engineering technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
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
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 192,103 automotive engineering technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for automotive engineering technicians differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire 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 |
Below are examples of industries where automotive engineering technicians work:
Tech Stack
- 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
Daily working conditions for automotive engineering technicians is shaped by 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
Education and Training
Most automotive engineering technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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 often complete 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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