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The Average Salary of Automotive Engineers

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Information updated January 22, 2019.

By Charles K. Green

What automotive engineers earn.

Infiniti Engineering Academy
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.

Specifications of a 2013 Kia Rio

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Smallest Kia gets a new design.

2013 Kia Rio

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.

2013 Kia Rio

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.

2013 Kia Rio

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.

2013 Kia Rio

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.

2013 Kia Rio

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.

See Also — Behind the Wheel of a 2017 Kia Sorento SUV

Semi-Autonomous Cadillac Possible by 2015

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Advanced Cadillac XTS features Super Cruise technology.

Cadillac Super Cruise

Autonomous driving may still be about a decade away from arriving on the market, but that isn’t stopping General Motors from bringing semi-autonomous driving to its all-new Cadillac XTS. The large sedan, debuting this year, wont be outfitted with Super Cruise technology, but by 2015 it could become an option when you buy an XTS.

About Super Cruise

GM describes Super Cruise as technology that provides fully automatic steering, braking and lane-centering in highway driving under certain optimal conditions. The building blocks for Super Cruise can be found in the XTS and the all-new ATS compact sedan as part of each vehicles Driver Assist package. Driver Assist makes use of sensors to provide 360-degree crash risk detection and enhanced driver assist features.

Super Cruise is designed for interstate use and can work in bumper-to-bumper traffic such as what you might experience on a summer Saturday morning while heading down the Garden State Parkway on your way to the shore. It can also be useful on long, open road trips such on you might take on I-80 or I-15.

Cadillac hands free

Semi-autonomous driving allows you to take your hands off
of the steering wheel under certain optimal conditions.

“Super Cruise has the potential to improve driver performance and enjoyment,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “Our goal with advanced technologies, like this and our CUE system, is to lead in delivering an intuitive user experience.”

Building Blocks

The building blocks for semi-autonomous driving GM says are in place include rear automatic braking; intelligent brake assist; forward collision alert; full-speed range adaptive cruise control; a safety alert seat; head up display and automatic collision preparation. Also included are lane departure warning; side blind zone alert; rear cross traffic alert; adaptive forward lighting and a rear vision camera with dynamic guidelines.

Under semi-autonomous driving, lane-centering technology makes use of forward-looking cameras to detect lane markings as well as GPS map data to note curves and other road characteristics. Operational limitations for this system include weather conditions and just how well lanes are marked. When operating in less than optimal conditions, the driver must steer.

Said John Capp, General Motors director of Global Active Safety Electronics and Innovation, The primary goal of GM’s autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle development is safety. In the coming years, autonomous driving systems paired with advanced safety systems could help eliminate the crash altogether by interceding on behalf of drivers before they’re even aware of a hazardous situation. More than ever, consumers will be able to trust their car to do the right thing.”

Driver Appeal

GM says that interest in semi-autonomous driving appeals to some drivers, including those that participated in a study it conducted with its research partners and funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Drivers expressed interest in using the technology for long trips where lane-centering and full-speed adaptive cruise control might reduce the tedium experienced when traveling.

Photos courtesy of General Motors Company.

Refreshed Mercedes-Benz G-Class Drops Cover

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Luxury off-road favorite receives a nip/tuck.

2013 Mercedes-Benz G Class

African safari venturers are accustomed to enjoying safe rides and may be escorted through Botswanian lion country or through a South African game preserve in the sturdiest of vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, an iconic sport utility vehicle with upright pillars and rugged good looks, is sometimes that vehicle of choice, transporting passengers through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and to Makgadigadi National Park. With stops along the Okavango Delta and on to Livingstone or what is now called Maramba in Zambia, the G-Class can handle the toughest terrain while still looking elegant as it travels on hard city pavement.

Model Year Refresh

For 2013, Mercedes-Benz has significantly restyled its heritage SUV, but has done so without compromising its long-recognized good looks. Introduced in 1979, the G-Class of today offers a familiar covering, one meant to convey assurance and to signal that this is no ordinary SUV.

Those changes are most apparent inside of the cabin as the 2013 G-Class offers a new instrument panel, one with a full color display located between a pair of new round dials. The Mercedes COMAND infotainment system has been updated to reflect current M-B technology, offering full Internet access and a new navigation system.

Said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, “Our G-Class has been a force to be reckoned with for the last 33 years. In its latest evolutionary stage, it offers state-of-the-­art, powerful engines, a further improved range of luxurious appointments and the very latest safety features, as well, of course, as its now legendary off-road capabilities. At the same time the design remains true to its down-to-earth, unmistakable style.”

Exterior and Powerplant

Exterior changes include new LED daytime driving lamps and new side mirrors, offering what the automaker calls “discreet changes to the exterior appearance of the luxury off-roader.” The G-Class’ safety features now include Blind Spot Assist, the parking aid PARKTRONIC and the adaptive cruise control system DISTRONIC PLUS.

Choose the G550 edition, and your SUV is outfitted with a 5.5-liter V-8 gasoline engine making 388 horsepower and 391 foot-pounds of torque. This engine is paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission that is now in its sixth generation. Since it was first introduced in 1960, this automatic transmission has been regularly revised and optimized, to keep up with today’s driving demands.

Choose the G63 AMG and that model is outfitted with a V-8 bi-turbo engine making 544 horsepower and 560 foot-pounds of torque. This model also features the ECO stop/stop system, important gas-saving technology that shuts off the engine when idle such as at a traffic light. Step on the accelerator and the engine immediately awakens, allowing you to continue on your way with no hesitation.

Model Availability

Model year 2013 editions will show up in Mercedes-Benz showrooms across North America this August. Pricing for this six-figure SUV will be announced just before its release.

See Also — Mercedes-Benz Goes on the Attack With Its A-Class

Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA.

So You Think You Want a Hobby Car

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You catch yourself drooling over the old VW Super Beetle pulled up beside you at the fuel pump. Your neck is sore from repeatedly craning it at every Jeep Grand Wagoneer you pass. You spend hours online reading articles like this one about getting a hobby car. The $2,500 you’ve been saving for the project is threatening to turn into a new grill or get absorbed into Jr.’s college fund. It’s time to take the plunge. Here are some clarifying questions and tips to make sure you don’t end up loathing the experience.

1. Are you ready for this?

True story: A friend owned a new Subaru Outback wagon that cost nearly $30,000. The Subaru was parked outside under a tree, yielding his single garage space to a 1967 Volvo 122s that he’d acquired for $2,000. Even he knew that this arrangement didn’t make sense, but if you’re considering purchasing a hobby car, you already know that they aren’t about making sense. They’re about your love for the car.

Volvo 170
Do you garage your classic and keep your new car outside?

If you love the car, you’ll spend time tinkering with it. You’ll seek out online forums populated by friendly people who also love the car. You’ll drive great, dubious distances in your car to meet up with these forum people, and beam when they compliment the shiny, correct color-code paint you’ve applied to the engine block. You’ll break down on the way home and, using the box of replacement parts and duct tape you keep in the trunk, fix the problem on the fly. If the same thing had happened in your 2008 Honda Accord, you’d have cursed the vehicle up and down, but something about your 1961 Saab 95 makes it all OK.

Can-do, that’s you. If it’s not, you want a restored classic car, not a hobby car. You’ll pay more, but you can expect greater reliability and less hands-on maintenance.

2. Which Car?

Which car you buy depends largely on your skills. If you’re mechanically inclined and look forward to rebuilding the old engine, you can probably get a vehicle that isn’t running at a fraction of the cost of a roadworthy example. If you like to sew, you might enjoy reupholstering the interior of the old AMC Concord that recently was home to a family of raccoons – but you’re going to want to be sure that the engine runs. You need to be honest about your abilities and interests and try to acquire a vehicle with needs in your area of expertise. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending exorbitant sums paying others to do the repairs you’re unable to do yourself. And you’ll start misappropriating junior’s college fund to do so.

1981 AMC Concord.
A like-new 1981 AMC Concord.

The No.1 killer of old cars is rust. If you live or have vacationed in the South, Southwest or Northwest, you’ll likely have seen rust-free old cars in much greater quantities than in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic or Midwest. Rust permeates all unprotected metal parts, eating not just frames, unibodies and body panels, but also springs, axles, radiators and much more. Unless you have a body shop and easy access to rust-free replacement parts, you should seek out and purchase the least rusty example you can find.

This might mean travelling out of your region to find the right car. The good news is that the laws of supply and demand frequently result in a greater quantity of comparatively less expensive vehicles in comparatively better condition in dry regions, leaving you some spare change for travel. Or, if you’re already active and have made friends in the online forums related to your dream car, there might be someone near enough to the car you’d like to see who would check it out for you. Find a winner? Great! Bring it home.

3. Give Yourself a Honeymoon

If your car is advertised as running and driveable, and it’s fairly close to home, go ahead and drive it home. However, unless you’ve personally driven it at highway speeds and perhaps had it inspected at a trusted shop, your best bet is to have it transported home. Maybe you’ve got a buddy with a flatbed? No? If you have AAA, you might be able to have it towed up to 100 miles at no additional cost. If it’s more than a hundred miles away, spend a few bucks and have it shipped by an auto transport company. They’ll often move even non-running vehicles, so that opens the doors for your search.

flat-bed towing
Long distance towing of a classic car
can be accomplished via flat bed.

Basically, you want to bask in the glow of your hobby car before it leaves you stranded for the first time. Remember your duct tape fix on the way home from your car-geek meet-up? Your “new” car’s prior owners already have those stories with your car and you have no idea which bits are still held together by duct tape. It’s best to avoid any long or fast trips before spending some time going over the vehicle yourself, in your own garage. You do have a garage, right?

4. You Need a Garage

Apartment complexes and city streets are the wrong environment for a hobby car. It’s almost impossible to properly and safely maintain a vehicle in a parking lot. Plus, you’ll start to resent your current abode for its lack of a garage. You’ll start to hate the weather for raining on your first Saturday off that you planned to use it to swap out wheel bearings. And you’ll start to hate the car, covered in snow, ice or pollen, unable to be shown off and driven for your inability to keep up with the maintenance in the unpredictable outdoors.

Moving Forward

Still in? Enjoy the rewarding pastime of tinkering with your old car. You’re going to love it.

Photo Credits

Volvo 122s WikiUser5000

Saab 95 Jelson25

1981 AMC Gremlin CZ Marlin

What Does “No-Fault” Auto Insurance Mean?

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wrecked car
With no-fault auto insurance, car insurers pay claims up
to policy limits to customers regardless of fault.

In the context of auto insurance, the term “no-fault” simply means that car insurance customers will each get compensated for their own damages after an accident by their own insurance companies, without regard to who may be at fault for the accident. No matter who caused it, each driver is responsible for most of their own costs.

In return, insurance customers usually accept some restrictions on their right to recover additional money from the other driver via a lawsuit. Generally, no-fault provisions will apply up to a certain dollar amount of damages – typically $1,000 to $2,000.

No-Fault Laws

State legislatures write the laws governing insurance reimbursement and lawsuits, and many states have elected a ‘no-fault’ insurance system. As of this writing, the states which have enacted a no-fault auto insurance system to some degree are Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Utah. Each state has somewhat different laws governing the specifics.

The alternative system – enacted to at least some degree by other states, is a traditional tort system. Under the traditional tort system, people who suffer damages in an auto wreck are free to pursue damages from other drivers – and by extension, from their insurance companies through the courts. Establishing that one party or the other was “at fault” is a critical part of this process. But this process often requires lengthy and expensive investigations, inquests, and court proceedings. Victim compensation can be held up in litigation for months or years.

Example: You are driving near your residence in Florida and you get distracted. You run a stop sign. As a result, you collide with another car, causing $1,000 worth of minor cosmetic damage to the other vehicle, and $750 to your own. There are no injuries. You have a $500 deductible, and you file a claim.

Your insurance company pays you $250. That’s the $750 in damages, minus your $500 deductible.

Your insurance company does not normally pay the other drivers’ claim. The other driver, if insured, gets compensated by his own insurance company. There is no attempt to establish fault for the purpose of establishing liability (although if you make a habit of racking up claims, your insurer will probably adjust your premiums upward!)

Advantages of No-Fault Systems

The chief advantage of the no-fault auto-insurance system is its simplicity. Because smaller accidents do not require an extensive investigation to establish fault, insurance companies can process claims quickly – often compensating their customers in a matter of days, not weeks.

See Also — Vital Statistics: Car Accident Injuries

In theory, the system also reduces costs, since it eliminates much of the legal wrangling over the majority of accident cases. This translates to potentially lower premiums across the board, not just because of the efficiency, but also because drivers have lower limits on the damages they can be held liable to pay.

Disadvantages of No-Fault Systems

Theory and reality are two different things – and no-fault insurance systems have not been as successful in rolling back insurance costs as their proponents had originally hoped. The no-fault system tends to favor poorer drivers, at the expense of more responsible drivers because the costs of accidents are shared more evenly with the drivers who did nothing wrong.

Additionally, some people have abused no-fault provisions by using their auto insurance policies to substitute for medical policies, by combining an accident with insurance fraud. Critics of the system have argued that no-fault schemes hurt consumers by restricting their rights to sue for damages while not materially reducing their premiums.

Insurance Considerations

You don’t have to worry about figuring out your state’s requirements, because any insurance provider will do that for you. However, make sure you understand the potential financial impacts of an accident those relating to your own car, your own medical bills, and your potential liabilities so that you can choose a plan that’s right for you.

See Also — 7 Ways to Trim Car Insurance