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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Automotive Engineers

Part of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, in the Engineering and Technology pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 17-2141.02

What the work is

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.

On a typical day

  • Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new automotive technology or competitive products.
  • Establish production or quality control standards.
  • Prepare or present technical or project status reports.
  • Develop or implement operating methods or procedures.
  • Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.
  • Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.

What it pays

$104,620
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $74,340
Experienced workers reach $159,670
  1. $74k10th
  2. $93k25th
  3. $105kMedian
  4. $135k75th
  5. $160k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $74,340, 25th $93,360, Median $104,620, 75th $134,890, 90th $159,670

About 1,480 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+20.1%

employment change in the Alamo region, 1,182 to 1,420 jobs · U.S. +9%

90

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 18,100

1,182

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 293,100

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Critical Thinking4.8
  2. Complex Problem Solving4.3
  3. Reading Comprehension4.8
  4. Mathematics4.9
  5. Judgment and Decision Making4.3
  6. Writing4.1
  7. Speaking3.9
  8. Systems Evaluation4.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Certificate5%
  2. Bachelor's degree71%
  3. Master's degree19%
  4. Doctoral or professional5%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

Browse all programs

Does this fit you?

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