Career roadmap

How to become an Automotive Engineer

$99,510 median/yr·Suits people who are strongly realistic

Median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers (17-2141) — BLS OEWS, May 2023.

What you would actually do

The tasks that make up the work of an Automotive Engineer, weighted by how central each one is to the job.

Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
Direct design or development activities.
Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
Conduct quantitative failure analyses of operational data.
Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
Prepare operational reports.
Design electromechanical equipment or systems.

The skills that actually carry the job

Scored on how much the work depends on each one — not a wishlist, a measurement.

Critical Thinking4.1/5
Complex Problem Solving4.1/5
Reading Comprehension4.0/5
Writing3.9/5
Speaking3.9/5
Mathematics3.9/5
Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
Active Listening3.8/5
Operations Analysis3.8/5
Systems Analysis3.8/5

Would this suit you?

Every occupation leans on a particular mix of interests. Here is the mix measured for an Automotive Engineer — and our free 3-minute Career Match scores you on the same six.

Realistic6.5/7
Hands-on, practical, working with tools, machines or the body
Investigative5.7/7
Investigating, diagnosing, reasoning through problems with evidence
Conventional4.1/7
Ordering, checking, following a precise procedure accurately
Artistic2.4/7
Creating, expressing, working without a fixed procedure
Enterprising2.0/7
Persuading, leading, selling, taking commercial risk
Social1.3/7
Helping, teaching, caring for and working directly with people

See how you score — 3 min, free

Interest profiles from the O*NET 29.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0.