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High Performance Engine Mechanic

Types of Degrees High Performance Engine Mechanic Majors Are Earning

Those studying High Performance Engine Mechanic have the option of earning 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

Coursework in 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 developed in 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

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.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 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
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Vehicle management software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Recordkeeping software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Internet browser software	Internet browser software	—
IBM Notes	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for High Performance Engine Mechanic graduates include:

• Vehicle Fuel Systems Converter
• Transmission Mechanic
• Motor Block Mechanic
• Automotive Brake Specialist (Auto Brake Specialist)
• Rattle Repairer
• Fuel Retrofitting Technician
• Front End Alignment Specialist
• Wheel Tuner
• Trim Technician (Trim Tech)
• Auto Clutch Specialist (Automotive Clutch Specialist)
• Auto Assistant (Automotive Assistant)
• Brake Adjuster
• Tire and Lube Technician (Tire and Lube Tech)
• AC Mechanic (Air Conditioning Mechanic)
• Lube Technician (Lube Tech)

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?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks 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?

On the earnings side, 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	CIP Code
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	47.06
Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician	47.0608
Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician	47.0607
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician	47.0614
Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0603
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician	47.0604
Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician	47.0609
Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0610
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician	47.0605
Engine Machinist	47.0615
Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician	47.0616
Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician	47.0613

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.