# Automotive Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2141.02
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $104,110 (10th percentile $73,990, 90th percentile $164,340)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +11.2%
- Openings a year: 17,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Mechanical engineers".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 86 |
| Investigative (I) | 78 |
| Artistic (A) | 26 |
| Social (S) | 6 |
| Enterprising (E) | 19 |
| Conventional (C) | 51 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 93/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 89/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 83/100)
- Processing Information (importance 83/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Mathematics, Speaking, Writing, Active Listening, Operations Analysis, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical, Design, Computers and Electronics, Transportation, English Language, Production and Processing, Administration and Management

## Also called

Automotive Designer, Automotive Engineer, Automotive Power Electronics Engineer, Automotive Project Engineer, Automotive Quality Engineer, Automotive Systems Engineer, Chassis Engineer, Customer Quality Engineer, Design Release Engineer, Design Support Engineer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1419) (CIP 1419, 445 colleges)
- Engineering Mechanics (CIP 1411, 29 colleges)
- Electromechanical Engineering (CIP 1441, 10 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Mechanical Engineering | $94,095 | $131,967 | $15,000 |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | Mechanical Engineering | $98,324 | $126,395 | $23,147 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Mechanical Engineering | $84,296 | $122,111 | $16,304 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Mechanical Engineering | $88,721 | $120,991 | $13,250 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Mechanical Engineering | $95,340 | $119,371 | $11,175 |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Mechanical Engineering | not reported | $117,072 | not reported |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Mechanical Engineering | not reported | $115,927 | not reported |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Mechanical Engineering | not reported | $114,492 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Manufacturing Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manufacturing-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Aerospace Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineers): $134,960 median pay
- [Electronics Engineers, Except Computer](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electronics-engineers-except-computer): $130,220 median pay
- [Mechatronics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechatronics-engineers): $122,930 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.