Information updated October 2017.
By Charles K. Green
What automotive engineers earn.
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 288,800 in 2016, 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 average annual salary for automotive engineers was $84,190 in 2016 according to the BLS.
Those in the 10th percentile averaged $26.16 per hour while those in the 50th percentile earned $40.48. Automotive engineers in the in the 90th percentile earned $63.15 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 2016, approximately one in seven automotive engineers worked in Michigan. Wages in that state are above the national average, with engineers earning $86,550 per year as of 2016 or $2,360 above 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 $98,190 in 2016 or $11,640 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 requires 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 2024, 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.
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The Average Salary of Automotive Engineering Technicians
The Average Salary of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
