Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$79,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$9,000
11.4% of base
Total target cash
$88,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$5,50050th$9,00075th$14,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Automotive Engineering Technician is a professional role within the function in the Architecture and Engineering job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingQuality Control AnalysisOperations Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Automotive Engineering Technician pay by experience level
Entry level$50,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$61,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$77,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$91,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$110,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,200
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Automotive Engineering Technician salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
10,980 workers
$84,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
7,160 workers
$79,000
Machinery Manufacturing
5,310 workers
$74,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
5,110 workers
$78,500
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
3,770 workers
$70,500
Scientific Research and Development Services
2,780 workers
$92,500
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
2,140 workers
$78,000
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
1,890 workers
$77,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
1,610 workers
$68,500
Administrative and Support Services
1,550 workers
$77,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $58,230 to $74,510.
+28.0% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$50,000
Early career25th percentile
$61,500
Median50th percentile
$77,000
Experienced75th percentile
$91,000
Top earners90th percentile
$110,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingQuality Control AnalysisOperations Monitoring
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$79,000
2027$82,000
2028$84,500
2029$87,500
2030$90,500
2031$94,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Automotive Engineering Technician make?
The median market pay for a Automotive Engineering Technician in the United States is about $79,000 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Automotive Engineering Technician?
Most Automotive Engineering Technician pay falls between about $61,500 (25th percentile) and $91,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $110,000.
What does a Automotive Engineering Technician do?
Core responsibilities include: document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools; and set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
Is pay for Automotive Engineering Technician roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $58,230 in 2020 to $74,510 in 2025, a change of +28% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Automotive Engineering Technician pays 27% below the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Need Automotive Engineering Technician pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
