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The differences between automation leads and automotive engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an automation lead, becoming an automotive engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an automation lead has an average salary of $106,261, which is higher than the $82,211 average annual salary of an automotive engineer.
The top three skills for an automation lead include java, python and C++. The most important skills for an automotive engineer are CAD, ISO, and adaptive.
| Automation Lead | Automotive Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,261 | $82,211 |
| Hourly rate | $51.09 | $39.52 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 36,010 | 104,464 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
An Automation Lead is primarily in charge of testing and operating automated machinery in manufacturing facilities. They typically work together with automation teams, adhere to guidelines and protocols, meet project requirements, and produce progress reports. There are also instances when an automation lead may participate in conceptualizing machinery, conducting research and analyses, and addressing issues and concerns. Moreover, an Automation Lead usually works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
An automotive engineer specializes in designing and developing vehicles for public or private use. Their job entails conducting extensive research and analyses, conceptualizing plans with fellow experts, building prototypes and structures, troubleshooting problems, and implementing multiple test procedures to identify how the vehicle operates at different conditions and ensure its quality adheres to standards and regulations. Besides developing new vehicles, an automotive engineer may also modify existing models, which requires them to study the market and consumers' feedback, identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and coordinate upgrades.
Automation leads and automotive engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Lead | Automotive Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,261 | $82,211 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $137,000 | Between $57,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Belmont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cal | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an automation lead and an automotive engineer in terms of educational background:
| Automation Lead | Automotive Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between automation leads' and automotive engineers' demographics:
| Automation Lead | Automotive Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 15.9% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |