The term “auto manufacturing industry” refers to all companies and projects involved in making cars, including most components, frames, and engines but excluding tires, batteries, and gasoline. The primary products of the sector are passenger automobiles and small trucks, including pick-up trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles. Commercial automobiles (such as delivery vehicles and giant carriers, sometimes known as semi-trailers) come in second despite being crucial to the business.
For many vehicle enthusiasts, well-paying work in the automobile business can be ideal. However, there is an intense desire for new hires with few entrance hurdles because the automotive business is so diversified and fascinating.
Here are the top 20 best-paying jobs in the auto manufacturing sector that you should consider if you are an automobile lover.
1. Automotive Assembler
An automotive assembler often puts parts and accessories on motor vehicles. The fitter inspects the automobiles for flaws as well. He can run several tests to ensure that the gadgets function as planned. For car assemblers, both soft and hard skills are needed. To ensure that the automobile is put together correctly, it must be capable of using various tools and equipment. For the entire assembly line to function well and produce the most significant outcomes, assemblers must collaborate with their co-workers and supervisors. A high school diploma or G.E.D. is usually all that is required of automotive assemblers by most organizations.
Average Salary: $26,000-$35,000 per year.
2. Dimensional Inspector
A specific category of quality control inspector known as a “dimensional inspector” is charged with checking the dimensions of products to ensure they adhere to established standards. These inspectors may need to use rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers as tools.
Like other quality assurance inspectors, dimensional inspectors are employed full-time, typically during business hours. New inspectors may need to work some night or weekend shifts. Their workdays are between writing reports in the office and conducting on-site inspections as scheduled. Inspectors might be exposed to various risks; they might need particular attire and protective equipment to keep themselves from getting hurt or sick. A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required for the post of dimensional inspector.
Average Salary: $35,500-$47,500 per year.
3. Automotive Manufacturer
An engineer who collaborates on automobile design and manages vehicle production from conception to delivery to the client is an automotive manufacturer (also known as a manufacturing engineer). Specifically, they are in charge of creating the machinery, procedures, and systems utilized to produce vehicles and transport them to the final consumer. An automobile maker may work in various positions, such as designing tools, developing transportation and material sciences, automation, production systems, designing and developing tests, and testing the final assembly. You can select an area of proficiency in this position, such as aerodynamics, and collaborate with a team of experts to design and construct an automobile. It would be best if you had a high school diploma or G.E.D. to work on an assembly line in a car manufacturing plant. However, an automotive engineer needs a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. It is also required that you have a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field if you want to work in management
Average Salary: $40,000-$80,500 per year.
4. Automotive Engineering Technician
By conducting testing, researching, and compiling data about vehicles, vehicle parts, and vehicle systems, automotive technicians assist automotive engineers in determining the effectiveness and performance of autos. They could help with studies and tests on aerodynamics, safety features, performance and fuel economy, and vehicle engines. They could also help with reports that suggest changes based on information, inspections, and analysis. Additionally, they design or alter prototype parts. According to the Department of Labour, 46,000 automotive technicians are employed in the U.S. An Associate degree in mechanical engineering is required for this position.
Average Salary: $48,500-$72,500 per year.
5. Automotive Product Specialist
Automotive product specialists assist consumers in selecting either a new or used car from a dealer by listening to their needs, wants, and previous car issues. Alternatively, you can offer extra resources like online tools that detail the features and bundles offered so they can decide afterward. You will take automobiles straight out of the showroom with the most recent technological updates. You will be prepared to describe each one in-depth, including extra choices, services, and performance features. Other responsibilities include establishing trusting, long-lasting connections with your clients and maintaining a lot of flexibility to serve them better. You will be responsible for lead generation, appointment setting, email lead management, and keeping up with vehicle production changes. An undergraduate degree or equivalent and previous sales experience are preferred.
Average Salary: $32,700-$52,500 per year.
6. Automotive Consultant
Auto dealerships hire car advisors or car sales consultants to sell cars to their consumers. These consultants are in charge of organizing road tests and matching consumers with the appropriate vehicles, among other duties related to the vehicle sales process. They have received specialized training to profile customers in detail to determine their demands. One of their credentials is having specialized sales techniques to overcome typical buyer hurdles to purchasing a vehicle. Automotive consultants can explain the advantages of these vehicles to people from different walks of life because they have a thorough understanding of their products. The minimum requirement for entry-level candidates is a high school diploma or G.E.D. Promotion to sales management and leadership positions can also be achieved with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or communication.
Average Salary: $35,000-$55,500 per year.
7. Automotive Designer
As its title indicates, automobile designers are in charge of creating a car’s inside and exterior using artistic, design, and marketing trends. They create appealing, functional, and aerodynamic designs on paper or in design software that incorporate all the electrical, mechanical, and other design-related requirements. At this point, the car’s objectives are established, and they maintain them throughout the development phase by keeping an eye on the manufacturing team, including the systems analyst and the car designers. An automotive design or engineering degree is typically required to become a car designer.
Average Salary: $70,000-$73,000 per year.
8. Automotive General Manager
General managers in the automotive sector oversee numerous departments and work in automobile sales to maintain the dealership’s profitability. You oversee your position’s sales division, maintenance and spare parts, bookkeeping, and finances. You are responsible for encouraging employees, organizing events and advertising, and ensuring customers are happy. Additionally, you will often set goals for the dealership, plan staff hiring for high-level jobs like sales and service managers, supervise day-to-day operations from a senior viewpoint, and collaborate with the team on record keeping and economic analysis. Developing relationships with co-workers and consumers is another task. As a supervisor in the automotive sector, you must ensure that all staff members adhere to the company’s policies and procedures.
Average Salary: $75,000-$105,000 per year.
9. Vehicle Detailer
The car dealer cleans the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Operating a car wash and employing a vehicle detailer to assist with washing, waxing, and polishing client vehicles or taking over the task is worthwhile for an entrepreneur. Since car manufacturers interact with clients directly, they require technical expertise and solid interpersonal skills. Cleaning the interior and external surfaces of cars, following all corporate standards and client requests, is one of the responsibilities of automobile designers. Operating hoses, vacuum cleaners, vaporizers, and other equipment in a manner that satisfies service requirements and the job of a vehicle detailer is to preserve and enhance the looks of vehicles by using washing, protection, and repair products.
Average Salary: $55,000-$85,000 per year.
10. Body Component Engineer
The designer is responsible for the body component’s conception, layout, development, timing, and manufacturing. Other responsibilities included developing B.I.W. seals, such as body shop and paint shop seals, and designing shims to fulfill dry vehicle functional requirements for C.F.M. and NVH. They support NA-hours meetings to directly collaborate with local design, production, vehicle architecture and concept, and SAN teams on adaptive designs that satisfy all package, functional objectives, and system requirements. They also assist with the dry vehicle, corrosion, and automotive weight targets by reviewing designs compared to design standards, business needs, and regulatory constraints.
Average Salary: $70,000-$92,000 per year.
11. Automotive Diagnostic Technician
Automotive diagnostic technicians use autos and related technology expertise to diagnose, repair, and service vehicles that use gasoline, petroleum, diesel, or electricity. A vehicle is tested by an automotive diagnostic professional, who may also take the vehicle for a test drive or use specialized diagnostic equipment to read the computer chip within the vehicle. This specialist typically works in an individual auto repair shop, the service division of an auto dealer, or the repair shop for delivery vans, buses, or other vehicles used for public transportation. They might also work in businesses that provide specialized services like oil changes or as members of a car racing team.
Average Salary: $45,000-$80,000 per year.
12. Auto Mechanic
Regular auto maintenance, diagnostic work, and mechanical repairs are all done by auto mechanics. They provide maintenance and repairs on automobile engines, chain drives, power steering, brakes, gearboxes, and other moving parts. A vehicle mechanic is skilled and efficient at managing the process and performing the necessary repairs, even if there are currently newer technologies, such as computerized diagnostic equipment, that can identify the areas in the automobile that need repair. They know when an engine needs to be tuned when certain sections need to be rewired, or when an entire component needs to be changed. They are also extremely strict concerning car rules and technical systems to remain relevant in the sector.
Average Salary: $30,000-$50,500 per year.
13. Chassis Engineer
The chassis engineer is in charge of developing, evaluating, and testing steering, braking, hydraulic, and suspension systems for vehicles. You will be in charge of supporting the platform system’s architectural design in this capacity. You are also responsible for investigating the issues discovered and assessing the driving errors. To ensure correct operation, you track and evaluate data from the tests you run on different vehicle components. Additional responsibilities include:
- They Control costs.
- They were teaching junior engineers.
- They generate technical documents from information and analysis.
- They are coordinating with platform personnel and affiliates to investigate problems.
Average Salary: $48,000-$69,000 per year.
14. Vehicle Calibration Engineer
An expert in car calibration engineering uses diagnostic software to optimize various machine parts. The Vehicle Calibration Engineer organizes fleet electric and hybrid measurement vehicle prototype maintenance and assists in calibration initiatives for electrified powertrain usability, emissions, OBDII, and fuel economy. Additionally, they organize and oversee the fleet of vehicle instruments. They are working with external facilities, such as Roush, E.V.B., etc., to direct upgrades to car components for instrumentation needs. Aids in the development process. Both in-house and outdoor testing is supported.
Average Salary: $55,000-$95,000 per year.
15. Vehicle Dynamics Engineer
Engineers that specialize in vehicle dynamics cannot operate alone. Vehicle performance is assessed by a vehicle dynamics engineer using software tools like Adams M.S.C. in today’s product creation process. Most problems are first solved on a computer (predictably determining packing, dimensions, weight distribution, tire sizes, etc.). A standard vehicle dynamics engineer must determine the size, tire size, suspension kind, and stiffness of suspension systems such as dampers, springs, and other associated equipment (load stabilizers, etc.) from the designer’s standpoint. However, they are called chassis engineers in creating automotive products because they concentrate on every component of the car’s underbody. Designers are free to use their imaginations when sketching out ideas, and platform design isn’t prioritized over actual product development when one is desired.
Average Salary: $52,000-$98,000 per year.
16. Engine Research Engineer
Assembling and disassembling compressor equipment is just one of the many responsibilities of engine research engineers. They are also in charge of installing appropriate measuring instruments and data acquisition systems, running tests, processing and reporting primary data as needed, conducting research, creating new technologies and prototypes, and looking for ways to enhance methods, processes, and technology. To meet the objectives of the Department, engine research engineers must also create research projects for small-molecule synthesis.
Average Salary: $40,500-$70,500 per year.
17. Automotive Hardware Engineer
The design, development, and testing of tools used in creating automobile products fall within the purview of an automotive hardware engineer. Although the task appears uncomplicated and straightforward, it is highly rigorous. Additional duties for the post include managing the technical team and keeping an eye on the project. Given its numerous essential responsibilities and high salary, this position is highly demanding across all departments. To be a project leader in the same role, candidates who want to become hardware engineers must have the necessary training and experience in higher education.
Average Salary: $65,000-$112,000 per year.
18. Tire Builder
Operating and maintaining tire-building machinery are tire builders. Given the high lifting and use of potentially dangerous machinery required by this job, it can be risky. They usually cut plies at the splice locations to create continuous bands and press the ends together. Bead setters are turned on, pressing premade beads onto plied. To reinforce tires, Tire Builders alternate the position of each ply while brushing or spraying solvents onto the plies to ensure adherence. Hot rubber may also be used to patch cuts and holes in tires.
Average Salary: $26,000-$40,500 per year.
19. Coordinate Measuring Machine (C.M.M.) Technician
Utilizing previously created inspection programs, a Coordinate Measuring Machine (C.M.M.) operator utilizes C.M.M. equipment to measure, inspect, and test materials and industrial components. Tools, attachments, fixtures, or components can be mounted or attached to the C.M.M. The coordinate measurement machine (C.M.M.) operator performs final or in-process inspections. As necessary, record and report non-conforming material. The Coordinate Measuring Machine (C.M.M.) operator also reads and understands requirements and drawings. A coordinate measurement machine (C.M.M.) operator is moderately supervised during work. Attain or already possess a complete qualification in the relevant discipline.
Average Salary: $75,000-$105,000 per year.
20. Auto Body Repair Expert
Auto body repair experts, auto body experts, auto body technicians, body shop technicians, and collision repair technicians are all terms used to describe people who fix the bodies of motor vehicles. They carry out a range of repairs, including complete restorations, paint jobs, and windshield replacements, in addition to minor fixes. Technicians work on exterior customization or smaller fixes like buffing scratches or rust damage when mechanics cannot rectify collision damage. Automobile dealerships, independent repair facilities, and fleet service departments require auto repair specialists. Auto mechanics can also launch their businesses. Since you will interact with clients directly in this role, communication skills are crucial.
Average Salary: $42,500-$82,500 per year.
Conclusion
This article summarized the best jobs in the auto manufacturing industry regarding pay and work. The U.S. economy depends heavily on the auto manufacturing industry, which offers skilled employees well-paying jobs. Employees must be flexible and pick up new abilities because the sector constantly evolves. Jobs in the auto industry typically pay highly, especially for skilled employees. The sector offers a range of occupations, from entry-level positions to those requiring advanced skills. For those prepared to put in the necessary effort, the business offers numerous prospects for promotion and a steady source of income.
