Architecture and Engineering · Holland code RIC
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.
Also called: Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician), Research Technician.
O*NET 17-3027.01
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $74,510
- Middle half earn $59,510 to $88,110. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
- 37% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
- US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034
- 0% · Little or no change
- 38,300 jobs in 2024, projected 38,300. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- 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.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.6 / 5
- Speaking3.5 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.5 / 5
- Active Listening3.3 / 5
- Writing3.3 / 5
- Mathematics3.1 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology4.5 / 5
- Mechanical4.2 / 5
- Computers and Electronics4.1 / 5
- Mathematics3.9 / 5
- English Language3.8 / 5
- Physics3.7 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic100
- Investigative73
- Artistic7
- Social0
- Enterprising4
- Conventional58
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- aerodynamics engineer · DE Ingenieur Aerodynamik/Ingenieurin Aerodynamik · FR aérodynamicien/aérodynamicienne
- automotive engineer · DE Automobilingenieur/Automobilingenieurin · FR ingénieur automobile/ingénieure automobile
- engine designer · DE Fahrzeug- und Motoreningenieur/Fahrzeug- und Motoreningenieurin · FR ingénieur qualité moteur/ingénieure qualité moteur
- motor vehicle engine inspector · DE Kfz-Motoreninspektor/Kfz-Motoreninspektorin · FR inspecteur de moteurs en industrie automobile/inspectrice de moteurs en industrie automobile
- motor vehicle engine tester · DE Kfz-Motorenprüfer/Kfz-Motorenprüferin · FR testeur de moteurs en industrie automobile/testeuse de moteurs en industrie automobile
- rolling stock engine tester · DE Prüfer Lokomotivenantriebe/Prüferin Lokomotivenantriebe · FR testeur de moteurs de matériel roulant/testeuse de moteurs de matériel roulant
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Routine inspectors and testers (8143)54,800 employed
- Mechanical engineers (professional) (2122)94,400 employed
- Engineering technicians (3113)74,200 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Technicians and associate professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €50,992 |
| Austria | €46,986 |
| Germany | €44,473 |
| Netherlands | €42,448 |
| Ireland | €41,613 |
| Sweden | €41,155 |
| Italy | €34,882 |
| France | €34,816 |
| Spain | €29,757 |
| Portugal | €18,080 |
| Poland | €12,108 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the middle third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.12. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (17-3027).
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