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Automotive Engineers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Develop new or improved designs for vehicle structural members, engines, transmissions, or other vehicle systems, using computer-assisted design technology. Direct building, modification, or testing of vehicle or components.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $104,110 Median per year · $50.05/hr Most earn $73,990–$164,340

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Create design alternatives for vehicle components, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative air-conditioning systems, to increase fuel efficiency.
  • Develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts.
  • Design vehicles that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic, to improve fuel efficiency.
  • Coordinate production activities with other functional units, such as procurement, maintenance, or quality control.
  • Design vehicles for increased recyclability or use of natural, renewable, or recycled materials in vehicle construction.
  • Prepare or present technical or project status reports.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
11% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 17,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Engineering services18.7%
  • Machinery manufacturing9.8%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences7.1%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service5.0%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing4.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Automotive engineering is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend about 1 to 2 years in a related engineering role before moving into this career.

  1. Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or automotive engineering

    4 years

    You learn the math, physics, and design tools that all vehicle engineering is built on, and you often do design projects or internships along the way.

  2. Mechanical Engineer

    1-2 years

    You start on real design, testing, or analysis work for parts or systems, and you learn how products are built and checked, which prepares you for vehicle-focused work.

  3. Automotive Engineer

    Ongoing

    You design or improve vehicle structures, engines, transmissions, or other systems using computer-aided design, and you direct the building and testing of those parts.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Automotive Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on bigger projects, lead design reviews, and make technical decisions with less supervision, which requires a strong track record on earlier projects.

  2. Engineering Manager

    5-8 years of experience first

    You shift from doing most of the design yourself to leading a team of engineers, setting priorities, and managing budgets and schedules, which takes both technical skill and people skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the highest math and physics classes you canCalculus and physics are the core subjects for any engineering degree, and they make college coursework much easier.
  • Join a robotics, STEM, or engineering clubBuilding and testing a machine as a team teaches you design, teamwork, and how real projects go from idea to prototype.
  • Take drafting, CAD, or computer science classes if your school offers themLearning CAD early gives you a head start on the design software automotive engineers use every day.
  • Work on cars or small engines, or help a family member with repairsHands-on experience with how vehicles work gives you a feel for the systems you would be designing later.
  • Look for a summer job or volunteer position at a auto shop, machine shop, or manufacturing plantSeeing how parts are made and tested shows you the real-world side of engineering work.

In college

  • Major in mechanical engineering or automotive engineeringA bachelor's degree in one of these majors is the usual entry requirement for this career.
  • Pursue a co-op or internship with an automotive, parts, or manufacturing companyHands-on work experience is what lets you move into this career within about 1 to 2 years after graduating.
  • Join a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student chapter or a formula or baja racing teamTeam projects that design, build, and test a vehicle give you practical experience employers notice.
  • Learn CAD and simulation software on your own or through a courseProficiency with these tools is a common requirement in automotive engineering job ads.
  • Take a job as a lab assistant or tutor in engineeringCampus jobs in engineering build your testing, troubleshooting, and communication skills while you study.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on experience early. Internships, co-ops, and project teams in automotive, mechanical, or motorsports groups often count as the related work experience employers look for.
  • Learn computer-aided design (CAD) software and basic data analysis. These tools show up in almost every automotive engineering job posting.
  • Pay attention to your grades in math and physics. A strong foundation makes a bachelor's degree in engineering much easier to finish.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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