Careers / Automotive Engineering Technicians
Automotive Engineering Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$74,510
United States, 2025
Employment
36,190
United States, 2025
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
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.
- O*NET code
- 17-3027.01
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$48,400
25th percentile
$59,510
75th percentile
$88,110
90th percentile
$106,050
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Speaking3.5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Writing3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Active Listening3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics3.1
- Repairing3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 17 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
17
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.5 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 2.5 | Not selected | 2.5 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Automotive Engineering TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick, WA | $126,230 | 90 | 2025 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $119,630 | 90 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $110,030 | 90 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | $109,470 | 80 | 2025 |
| Des Moines, IA | $105,160 | 110 | 2025 |
| LA | $102,800 | 270 | 2025 |
| Peoria, IL | $102,610 | 100 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $100,620 | 790 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | $100,150 | 600 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $98,440 | 180 | 2025 |
| NM | $97,560 | 320 | 2025 |
| Beaumont, TX | $97,300 | 60 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $96,680 | 530 | 2025 |
| Augusta, GA | $96,610 | 240 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $94,960 | 30 | 2025 |
| MO | $92,150 | 800 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | $91,450 | 1,030 | 2025 |
| CA | $87,390 | 3,660 | 2025 |
| Spokane, WA | $85,830 | 40 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $84,930 | 210 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Automotive Engineering Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.