Automotive Engineering Technicians
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.
Automotive Engineering Technicians 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $68,730 in the US and is showing modest growth of 0% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.55 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include engineering principles, material mechanics, mathematics, physics, engineering processes.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £44,843 a year for Engineering technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £35,086 to £55,963 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3113). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Automotive Engineering Technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Transportation
- Design
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Automotive Engineering Technicians do?
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.
How much does Automotive Engineering Technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Automotive Engineering Technicians in the US is $68,730.
What is the job outlook for Automotive Engineering Technicians?
The role is showing modest growth of 0% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 38,300 workers.
How do I become automotive engineering technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Automotive Engineering Technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include engineering principles, material mechanics, mathematics, physics, engineering processes, mechanics of motor vehicles. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Automotive Engineering Technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Automotive Engineering Technicians a score of 0.55 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Automotive Engineering Technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.