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The differences between auto technicians and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an auto technician, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $41,435 average annual salary of an auto technician.
The top three skills for an auto technician include taking care, preventive maintenance and customer vehicles. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Auto Technician | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $41,435 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $19.92 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 131,515 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
An auto technician specializes in performing inspections, repairs, and maintenance on different automotive vehicles ranging from small cars to light trucks. Their responsibilities revolve around identifying issues using various diagnostic tools to determine which course of action to take, discussing the extent of repairs to clients, and ordering car parts from suppliers. There are also instances when an auto technician may have the task of maintaining the cleanliness of the workplace, or participate in record-keeping and monitoring the inventory.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Auto technicians and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Auto Technician | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $41,435 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $59,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sterling, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Deloitte | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Energy |
There are a few differences between an auto technician and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Auto Technician | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between auto technicians' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Auto Technician | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 5% |