Life As an Automotive Engineering Technician
Example of Automotive Engineering Technician Job 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.
Life As an Automotive Engineering Technician: What Do They Do?
- Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems.
- Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
- Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
- Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
- Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.
What Every Automotive Engineering Technician Should Know
These are the skills Automotive Engineering Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Types of Automotive Engineering Technician Jobs
- Automotive Engineering Technician
- Emissions Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Research Technician
- Durability Technician
Job Demand for Automotive Engineering Technicians
In the United States, there were 46,100 jobs for Automotive Engineering Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,300 new jobs for Automotive Engineering Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,200 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Automotive Engineering Technician are Utah, Connecticut, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Automotive Engineering Technicians Salary
The salary for Automotive Engineering Technicians ranges between about $34,900 and $85,430 a year.
Automotive Engineering Technicians who work in Louisiana, New Mexico, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Automotive Engineering Technicians in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $57,670 |
Alaska | $65,050 |
Arizona | $57,620 |
Arkansas | $53,860 |
California | $62,510 |
Colorado | $68,690 |
Connecticut | $69,900 |
District of Columbia | $55,820 |
Florida | $50,360 |
Georgia | $55,540 |
Idaho | $54,740 |
Illinois | $60,940 |
Indiana | $53,430 |
Iowa | $51,710 |
Kansas | $55,210 |
Kentucky | $50,510 |
Louisiana | $82,350 |
Maine | $62,720 |
Maryland | $61,790 |
Massachusetts | $60,100 |
Michigan | $55,470 |
Minnesota | $58,940 |
Mississippi | $61,630 |
Missouri | $51,850 |
Montana | $55,070 |
Nebraska | $56,070 |
Nevada | $67,610 |
New Hampshire | $55,160 |
New Jersey | $55,090 |
New Mexico | $79,530 |
New York | $60,000 |
North Carolina | $54,810 |
North Dakota | $59,350 |
Ohio | $54,660 |
Oklahoma | $58,630 |
Oregon | $51,860 |
Pennsylvania | $54,640 |
Rhode Island | $59,180 |
South Carolina | $58,790 |
South Dakota | $43,310 |
Tennessee | $55,730 |
Texas | $67,740 |
Utah | $54,060 |
Vermont | $53,420 |
Virginia | $60,860 |
Washington | $65,300 |
West Virginia | $54,950 |
Wisconsin | $52,140 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Automotive Engineering Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Automotive Engineering Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- SAP
- IBM Notes
- Computer aided design CAD software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- PTC Creo Parametric
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Data acquisition software
- Autodesk Inventor
- Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
How do I Become an Automotive Engineering Technician?
Individuals working as an Automotive Engineering Technician have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Automotive Engineering Technicians Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.