April 2012 — Auto Trends Magazine

Information updated January 22, 2019.

By Charles K. Green

What automotive engineers earn.

Infiniti Engineering Academy students complete a series of challenges as part of their placement.

Automotive engineers help shape auto trends, by developing new or improved vehicle designs. Such planning can cover the car’s body, its powertrain system, and other vehicle systems. Engineers make use of computer-assisted technologies to build, modify, and test vehicles and related components.

These professionals numbered 291,290 as of May 2017, with most earning bachelor degrees and others obtaining master’s degrees in a bid to qualify for management positions. For government reporting and statistical purposes, automotive engineers are typically included with data for mechanical engineers.

Average Pay for Automotive Engineers

The mean annual wage for mechanical engineers (including automotive engineers) was $91,500 in 2017 according to the BLS.

Those in the 10th percentile averaged $26.59 per hour while those in the 50th percentile earned $41.29. Automotive engineers in the in the 90th percentile earned $64.37 per hour.

Largest Industries

According to Stony Brook University, most automotive engineers are employed directly by new car manufacturers.

In the U.S., General Motors, the Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler are among the largest original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and employers. Other manufacturers, including Nissan, Honda, Toyota, BMW, the Volkswagen Group, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Kia, also employ automotive technicians.

Engineers can find work with industry suppliers — Robert Bosch, Johnson Controls, TRW Automotive, Lear, and BorgWarner have hired in recent years. With the advent of autonomous driving, companies not traditionally associated with the auto industry are also employing engineers, including Google’s Waymo subsidiary and Uber.

By Location

As of 2017, approximately 15 percent of automotive engineers worked in Michigan. Wages in that state are above the national average, with engineers earning $90,850 per year as of 2017 or near the national median. In recent years, the average pay has fallen slightly in Michigan, while wages increase elsewhere.

Nearly as many automotive engineers work in California, earning an average wage of $104,030 in 2017 or $12,530 above the national median. Other larger pockets of automotive engineers can be found where car manufacturing plants are located including in Tennessee, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama and Texas.

Training

Automotive engineers typically complete a mechanical engineering program at a four-year college. Such programs often include a co-op program, enabling students to gain important experience before they graduate college. Most programs are accredited by ABET, the former Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Students should possess excellent mechanical and problem-solving skills, and have advanced math skills including trigonometry and calculus. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require licensure for engineers that offer their service directly to the public. Certification is received through the American Society of Mechanical Engineers with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) offering certification directly related to the industry.

Job Outlook

The BLS projects a 9 percent increase in automotive engineer jobs through 2026, representing average growth rate for all jobs. Much depends on the long-term outlook of the automotive industry which is in transition.

Those engineers with the desire to pursue advanced technologies such as electric vehicles are especially in demand. Engineers with a desire to relocate can find work across the United States and in some cases abroad.

Additional Salary Articles

The Average Salary of Automotive Body Technicians

What Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics Earn

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineering Technicians

The Average Salary of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineers

The Average Salary of Automotive Service Technicians

Photo copyright Infiniti.

Smallest Kia gets a new design.

The smallest model in the Kia line up is its subcompact Rio, a vehicle that is sold in sedan and hatchback configurations. Kia markets the Rio and Rio 5-door models separately, but unlike earlier models the only difference between these two is its body style and overall length. Pricing is from $13,600 for the sedan and from $13,800 for the hatchback, offering one of the lowest priced cars in America and one that comes fairly well equipped. Each model offers three trim levels to choose from with one engine and two transmission choices offered.

Engine and Transmission

Every 2013 Kia Rio model is powered by a 1.6-liter direct injection in-line four cylinder engine. This 16-valve aluminum block and head engine has a 11-to-1 compression ratio and features dual continuously variable valve timing. The Rio’s engine makes 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 123 foot-pounds of torque at 4,850 rpm.

Kia pairs this engine with a 6-speed manual or an electronically controlled 6-speed automatic overdrive transmission.

Fuel Economy

The 2013 Kia Rio takes regular grade gasoline. This vehicle is EPA-rated at 29 mpg around the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Choose the EX with an ECO package and the Rio is rated at 30 around the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Offering a 11.4-gallon fuel tank, the Kia Rio has a cruising range of 425 miles. That’s enough to take you from Austin to Dallas and back on one tank of fuel.

Kia Rio Dimensions

The Kia Rio dimensions shared here are for the sedan. This vehicle sits on a 101.2-inch wheelbase and is 171.9 inches long, 67.7 inches wide and 57.3 inches tall.

Seating five passengers, the 2013 Kia Rio offers 43.8 inches of legroom up front and 31.1 inches in the rear. Front head room comes in at 40.0 inches; rear head room is 37.6 inches. Front shoulder room is 53.1 inches; rear shoulder room comes in at 52.1 inches. Front hip room measures 52.1 inches; rear hip room is 51.2 inches.

Total passenger volume measures 88.6 cubic feet. The Rio has 13.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

Kia Rio Notables

The 2013 Kia Rio is sold in LX, EX and SX trim levels. Standard 15-inch steel wheels with all-season tires can be upgraded to alloy wheels and larger 17-inch tires and wheels.

The exterior of the Rio features a black mesh grilled with chrome surround included in EX and SX models. Dual color-keyed power side mirrors are standard. Side mirror turn signal indicators are standard with the Rio SX. SX models also bring in fog lights, LED lighting accents, dual exhaust tips and a sport-tuned suspension. All models come with intermittent wipers, a rear window wiper and washer, a locking fuel-filler door and a heated rear glass with timer.

Inside, a cloth interior is standard, with premium cloth and leather available. This model offers a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat and optional heated front seats. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and a soft-touch dash are available.

The Rio’s audio system includes SiriusXM satellite radio and comes with four speakers; tweeters are included with EX and SX editions. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls are standard; Bluetooth wireless controls and cruise control are available on EX and SX models. Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, a tilt steering column, a luggage area cover and bottle and drink holders. An infotainment system, dual map lights, automatic head lights and a navigation system are available.

Photos courtesy of Kia Motors America, Inc.

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