Is Auto Manufacturing A Good Career Path? (15 Jobs In Auto Manufacturing: Best-Paying + Entry-Level)

Manufacturing

Yes, auto manufacturing is a good career path. The auto industry has significantly transformed in recent years. With the advent of AI and augmented reality that enables autonomous and electric vehicles, how we think about transportation has shifted. This is an exciting time to be a part of this industry.

In the United States alone, auto manufacturers employ just under 10 million jobs across the country. Careers in auto manufacturing can be lucrative, innovative, and incredibly satisfying, especially for those who enjoy working with vehicles. If you’re interested in a job in auto manufacturing, it’s a great time to enter this exciting industry.

Here are 7 great jobs in auto manufacturing:

The 8 Best-Paying Jobs in Auto Manufacturing

A job in auto manufacturing that pays well might sound like a dream come true to many automotive enthusiasts. However, the automotive industry is highly versatile and exciting, and there is plenty of demand for new employees in this industry without any barriers to entry. Choose from these best-paying jobs in auto manufacturing.

Quality Testing Engineer

Quality testing engineers are individuals who are responsible for testing every single component that makes its way into a vehicle. This ensures the parts function properly and safely. This is possibly one of the most critical roles in the auto manufacturing industry as it determines the safety and quality of the final product.

Quality testing engineers are responsible for conducting crash testing, testing electronics, system integration, wireless connectivity, and more. Their work may include developing a test case, executing the test, and resolving any issues found. Due to the important nature of this work, this is a well-paid position.
Automotive Designer

Average Annual Salary: $73,000

An automotive designer does precisely what the name suggest — design automobiles. However, automotive design is a highly specialized field that must incorporate engineering, safety, business acumen, and creativity. These highly skilled individuals don’t just work on cars — they may also work on other modes of transportation as well.

Designers in the auto manufacturing industry are responsible for the appearance, components, and ergonomics of vehicles. Though functional development is a responsibility of the engineering team, the aesthetics and appearance of the vehicle are left solely up to the automotive designer and their team.

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Process Engineer

Average Annual Salary: $81,000

Process engineers are individuals who are responsible for the design, implementation, control, and optimization of industrial processes. In the auto manufacturing industry, process engineers are responsible for the engineering of plant production processes by maintaining automated systems.

Process engineers are responsible for resolving technical issues and must be creative enough to think through new innovations they can implement into the existing production process. To land a job as a process engineer, you’ll need to have a strong technical background as well as expertise in the automated manufacturing process.

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Automotive Engineer

Average Annual Salary: $72,000

Automotive engineers are individuals who work on the team responsible for overall vehicle design, development, manufacturing, and testing. The automotive engineer wears multiple hats, including being involved in the marketing, sales, and after-sale process of commercial vehicles.

Automotive engineers are required to use very sophisticated technology that can help provide the end-user with a smooth automotive experience. They may also be responsible for improving older technologies to develop new systems that meet market trends. Automotive engineers typically work in a team environment.

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Automotive Sales Manager

Jobs in the auto manufacturing industry can extend to sales. After production, the goods must be sold, and these managers lead the car dealerships that do that. They are typically responsible for forecasting the demand for vehicles in their local area, maintaining inventory, managing the sales team, and training new employees.

Sales managers must be both personable and organized. They must determine the most effective methods that can be used to sell vehicles in order to hit any company finance targets. This means they should be a skilled salesperson themselves so that they can train and guide their own teams to success.
Dealership General Manager

Similar to automotive sales managers, dealership general managers oversee the operations of all departments within a dealership. Dealership general managers most commonly work with cars sold to consumers, but they can also work in RV, boat, or other outdoor vehicle sales.

Dealership general managers are responsible for setting sales goals for the sales team, creating and managing the dealership budget, approving contracts made by finance as well as managing inventory, overseeing vehicle acquisitions, and developing strategies to increase sales and profits.
Automotive Service Director

Automotive Service Directors are responsible for leading the service department in a car dealership or vehicle parts store. This individual typically helps to determine the mechanical needs of any vehicle as well as managing employees, creating team goals, and ensuring efficient operations for customers.

The automotive service director may also be responsible for controlling operating expenses and helping to manage inventory, working closely with accounts receivable.
Production Supervisor

Average Annual Salary: $64,000

Production supervisors are individuals responsible for the manufacturing of components or vehicles made into a finished food on a specific production line. Production supervisors are responsible for the operation of an assigned area in production, overseeing quality, cost, delivery, technical, and safety requirements.

Production supervisors are also responsible for the day-to-day management of a team while ensuring the company’s targets and objectives are met to ensure customer satisfaction. Oftentimes, production supervisors are also responsible for improving production and quality while looking for ways to reduce costs.

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7 Entry-Level Jobs in Auto Manufacturing

If you’ve just graduated or are looking to make a career change, the auto manufacturing industry might be a good fit for you. There are a wide variety of jobs available that do not require experience and will give you a chance to learn about the automotive industry and work your way up if you choose. Here are seven entry-level jobs in auto manufacturing.

Vehicle Assembly

These entry-level positions are perfect for individuals interested in learning how automobiles work on the inside. It’s a physically demanding job but can be rewarding as well. Vehicle assembly workers are responsible for a variety of tasks related to manufacturing a vehicle.

These can include assembling wiring harnesses, switches, and motors, as well as installing HVAC systems, among other parts of the vehicle. In order to land a job as a vehicle assembly worker, you must have your high school diploma. Most manufacturing plants will train you on the job, arming you with skills to succeed.
Auto Body Repair Specialist

Auto body repair specialists are individuals who do exactly as the career name suggests — specialize in auto body repair. These specialists are responsible for repairing the outside of vehicles after accidents happen. Considering the number of accidents, scratches, and dents that happen to vehicles, this is a great job to pursue.

Auto body repair specialists are responsible for assessing damage, mending damaged bodies and fenders, filling dents, welding, as well as filling, grinding, or sanding surfaces for paint jobs. They must be familiar with the Class Collision rules, standards, and regulations and have great attention to detail.
Mechanic

Average Annual Salary: $45,000

Mechanics are individuals who perform maintenance, modifications, and repairs on automobiles, among other things. This profession will allow you to experience different types and makes of vehicles. This is a career you can grow into, expanding your skills and expertise as time goes on and you continue to learn.

There is no special education or experience required to become a mechanic, although many companies prefer some experience. As you grow in this career, you’ll become more skilled at recognizing specific issues for certain makes and models of cars and more adept at addressing them.

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Automotive Sales Representative

If you’re not looking for something physically demanding but still enjoy working with cars, a job in automotive sales might be right for you. You will need to know about and understand the inner workings of the cars you’ll be selling, as well as exceptional customer service and sales skills.

Sales representatives work directly with customers, typically in a dealership. Most of these individuals work on commission from the sales they make, making this a highly paid entry-level job. So long as you enjoy working with customers on a daily basis and have a keen eye for detail, this is a great job to pursue.
Vehicle Restoration Technician

Many individuals enjoy working with and learning about old classic cars. If this is something that’s interesting for you, consider working as a vehicle restoration technician. Vehicle restoration apprenticeships are the best way to enter this career before you branch out on your own.

Responsibilities for vehicle restoration technicians can include disassembly, mechanical restorations, upholstery, interior, and custom work restorations. Depending on your employer, you may work on full restorations or settle into a specialty, like upholstery. In this job, you’ll get to work with unique and exciting cars.
Coordinate Measuring Machine Technician

Average Annual Salary: $64,000

Coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technicians are responsible for running CMM programs to ensure precise measurements when parts are welded together or taken apart. These technicians must interpret computer-aided design data or blueprints supplied by the customer and perform dimensional studies.

CMM technicians coordinate requests for layout inspection to ensure results are given to the correct parties in a timely manner. These individuals are a crucial part of a team’s quality assurance staff, helping to ensure vehicle components are built properly and to specific standards.

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Process Technician

Average Annual Salary: $37,000

Process technicians are individuals who support manufacturing by facilitating process adherence through training, monitoring, and managing process methods. They have great attention to detail and focus on customer satisfaction through continuous improvements, optimization, and cost reduction of the overall product.

If you’re looking to enter this field, you should be sure you have great organizational skills, linear thinking, and leadership skills. Most jobs will train on the job; however, some do require some experience in a specialized skill such as injection molding, robotics, or auto painting.

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Why Choose a Career in Auto Manufacturing?

Working in auto manufacturing can be unique and challenging. This is a relatively easy career to enter, especially if you are deeply passionate about cars and other vehicles. Here are some other reasons to choose a career in auto manufacturing.

Variety of career paths. Auto manufacturing isn’t just putting cars together. There are a variety of different jobs to explore if you’re interested in working in this field, including management, administration, sales, and service.
Opportunity for growth. Auto manufacturing careers offer plenty of room for growth and advancement in most fields. With a high school diploma or GED under your belt, you can quickly climb into this career as you learn on the job.
Learn new skills. The auto manufacturing industry requires its employees to understand the product inside and out. If you enjoy working with vehicles, working in auto manufacturing will arm you with exciting new skills.
High-tech work environment. Transportation and auto manufacturing are rapidly changing. Working in this industry gives you the opportunity to be at the forefront of this new movement.

Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Auto Manufacturing

The qualifications required for a job in auto manufacturing may vary depending on the position you seek. Either way, the auto manufacturing industry has a wide variety of career path options that you can choose from. Below are some suggested education and certification requirements for a career in auto manufacturing.

For technician roles, you may need to complete an associate’s degree or training program. You should also be somewhat familiar with the equipment used in vehicle production, have communication skills, and have some knowledge of the assembly of vehicles.
Manufacturing technicians often learn on the job. This is the best way to learn the necessary skills to become a manufacturing technician that can operate alone.
Quality assurance inspectors and plant supervisors must have experience working in an auto manufacturing plant. Their jobs specifically relate to how the manufacturing process works and requires extensive knowledge of automobiles and how auto manufacturing, as an industry, works.
For engineering disciplines, you must achieve advanced qualifications. Engineers are what make automobiles run and, thus, must have advanced qualifications such as a bachelor’s and master’s degree.

What Do People Working In Auto Manufacturing Do?

Jobs in auto manufacturing can include individuals like technicians, plant supervisors, inspectors, and more. When you work in the auto manufacturing industry, you play a part in ensuring the success and safety of the entire auto manufacturing process, from car and truck part assembly to vehicle production.

Technicians or engineers are responsible for assembling parts, working machinery, and performing routine maintenance. If you’re working in quality assurance, you will be required to check each part to ensure proper quality and safety standards. If you work as a supervisor, you may oversee assembly or production. And in sales, you’ll be selling the final product.

Manufacturing

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Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

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