State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Automotive Engineer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Automotive Engineers is $104,110 a year ($50.05/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% through 2034, with about 18,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 17-2141Architecture and EngineeringLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $104,110
- Projected growth
- +9.1%
- Openings a year
- 18,100
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Dimensional Integration Engineer, Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer, Research Engineer.
How much do Automotive Engineers make?
10th percentile$73,990
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$84,130
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$104,110
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$132,590
Upper quartile
90th percentile$164,340
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $104,110 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $50.05/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $113,610 |
| People employed | 296,810 |
Versus all US occupations
At $104,110, Automotive Engineers earn 104% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $53,130 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
The median is typical for the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $102,440.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $164,340 or more while the bottom 10% earn $73,990, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Mexico pays the most at $157,710, and still leads at $171,030 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Automotive Engineers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 | $171,030 | 2,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 | $121,291 | 510 |
| California | $130,900 | $118,226 | 30,530 |
| Delaware | $125,130 | $125,371 | 610 |
| Colorado | $124,430 | $120,745 | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $124,340 | $121,474 | 380 |
| Maryland | $122,870 | $117,065 | 6,550 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 | $135,522 | 1,890 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 | $112,806 | 7,680 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 | $127,035 | 230 |
Is Automotive Engineer a growing career?
Automotive Engineers9.1%
All US occupations3.1%
+9.1% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Automotive Engineers to change 9.1% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.9× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 26,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 18,100 openings are projected each year, 6.2% of the 293,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
How to become an Automotive Engineer
Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. Mechanical engineers who sell services publicly must be licensed in all states and the District of Columbia.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as automotive engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree71.4%
- Master's Degree14.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.8%
- Post-Master's Certificate4.8%
- Doctoral Degree4.8%
What does an Automotive Engineer 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.
Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.
Day-to-day tasks
- Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.
- Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
- Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
- Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.
- Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new automotive technology or competitive products.
- Prepare or present technical or project status reports.
- Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.
- Establish production or quality control standards.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where automotive engineers work
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 20% |
|---|---|
| Machinery manufacturing | 14% |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 10% |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 6% |
| Scientific research and development services | 6% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Mathematics3.9/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
- Science3.3/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Operations Analysis3.8/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Systems Evaluation3.8/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Time Management3.3/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Automotive Engineer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.2
Investigativeprimary5.7
Artistic2.5
Social1.4
Enterprising2.1
Conventionalprimary4.1
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Automotive Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Automotive Engineers make?
Automotive Engineers earn a median of $104,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 104% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $50.05/hr. The middle half earn between $84,130 and $132,590. The top 10% earn $164,340 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Automotive Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Automotive Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 71.4% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Automotive Engineer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 18,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Automotive Engineer do?
Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines. A core O*NET task: conduct or direct system-level automotive testing. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Customer relationship management CRM software.
Which states pay Automotive Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Automotive Engineers are New Mexico ($157,710), District of Columbia ($133,300), California ($130,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Automotive Engineer?
O*NET scores Automotive Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTP, ISTJ, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.