The 11 Best-Paying Automotive Jobs (And Easiest To Get) - Zippia (2024)

The best automotive industry jobs balance being easy to get into and high-paying. If you’re interested in cars and are considering a career working with them, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’ll outline the best-paying jobs in the automotive industry, as well as the top entry-level automotive job options.

Key Takeaways:

• Some of the best-paying automotive jobs include industrial design and sales management.

• Great entry-level automotive jobs include tow truck driving and car sales.

• Between 2018 and 2028, the car sales representative career is expected to grow by 2% and produce 35,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

Best-paying automotive jobs

A career in the automotive industry can also be a lucrative one. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary of an American is $37,040, meaning 50% of Americans make more than this figure, and 50% make less, according to data from 2018. The following is a list of automotive jobs that earn more than this figure.

1. Automotive Body and Glass Repairers
   Average Annual Salary: $48,000

   Automotive body and glass repairers are some of the best-paying jobs in the automotive aftermarket. These are the people you go to when you have been in an accident or your car needs some sort of structural repair.

   They can address something as small as a crack in your windshield to something as big as replacing a door or making repairs to the actual frame of the car.

   In this position, formal training is preferred, however, a high school diploma and on-the-job training can also be sufficient.

   Job Outlook: Between 2020 and 2030, the auto body repair career is expected to grow by 6% and add 9,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

   See Also

   Highest paying jobs for new truck drivers15 Career Ideas for People Who Love Cars - The News WheelThe 75 Highest-Paying Jobs That Require a Bachelor's DegreeGig Economy Jobs: 9 Companies That Pay You To Drive

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2. Transportation Equipment Painter
   Average Annual Salary: $47,000

   If you enjoy the more artistic side of the automotive industry and want to work with your hands while making good money, being a transportation equipment painter might be a great option for you.

   Transportation equipment painters specialize in painting new vehicles and restoring older models. This sort of painting is usually completed with specialized spray paint guns.

   While a high school diploma is also required for this position, typically there are also options to learn automobile painting at vocational schools.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the transportation equipment painter career is expected to grow by 2% and produce 2,700 job opportunities across the U.S.

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3. Industrial Designer
   Average Annual Salary: $66,000

   If you’re interested in car design and would rather work at a desk, you might enjoy a lucrative career as an industrial designer.

   Industrial designers design cars and the seats, consoles, and other features inside them to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

   They may be creating new vehicles altogether, or they may be redesigning older models to be more user-friendly and fresh. Typically, this position requires a bachelor’s degree in industrial design or something similar.

   Job Outlook: Between 2020 and 2030, the industrial designer career is expected to grow by 6% and produce 1,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

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4. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
   Average Annual Salary: $46,900

   Automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a good living making sure that your car is running as best as it can. In this role, you’d perform maintenance tasks such as oil changes and tire rotations as well as provide more complex repairs to the inner mechanisms of clients’ vehicles.

   Because this is a more complicated, hands-on job, typically a certificate or associate’s degree is required. This is especially important to have if you want to own your own business.

   Job Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the automotive service technician career is expected to see little to no change between 2020 and 2030.

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5. Sales Manager
   Average Annual Salary: $81,000

   If you’re good at your job, you can earn a significant amount of money as a sales manager. Sales managers set prices, determine the best method of selling, and manage all the sellers of a particular dealership. They can also help solve customer issues and be a representative for the sales staff.

   To land a sales manager position, you will need to have an extensive sales background, and you will probably need to prove you can sell cars well before being promoted to a management position.

   Job Outlook: Between 2020 and 2030, the sales manager career is expected to grow by 7% and produce 27,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

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6. Diesel Technician and Mechanics
   Average Annual Salary: $44,000

   It may not seem like it to the layman, but there are large differences between diesel and gas engines, which means diesel technicians can get paid generously for their expertise. Diesel technicians specialize in diesel engines, meaning they work on larger vehicles, like trucks, semis, and buses.

   While some skills can be learned on the job, usually a certificate or associate’s degree is required, especially since you’d be dealing with more specialized machinery.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the diesel technician career is expected to grow by 5% and produce 13,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

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Entry-level automotive jobs

If you are looking into starting a career in the automotive industry, here are a few entry-level positions that can help you get started, or even provide you with valuable experience while you work towards earning a certificate or degree.

1. Mechanic’s Assistant
   Average Annual Salary: $27,000

   If you are looking to get into vehicle repair, becoming a mechanic’s assistant is one of the best automotive jobs to start with. This position allows you to learn the ropes while actually working with vehicles.

   If you’re working on gaining a certificate or completing an auto-body training course, this is a great job to get on the side.

   Plus, once you have completed your training or have earned your certificate, there will already be a shop that is familiar with you and might be willing to hire you as a full-time mechanic.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the mechanic’s assistant career is expected to grow by 5% and produce 13,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

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2. Vehicle Inspector
   Average Annual Salary: $57,000

   Becoming a vehicle inspector can be a great way to get familiar with cars and how they deteriorate or become damaged. This experience can launch you into some of the highest-paying automotive jobs in whatever area you choose.

   Being a certified vehicle inspector adds credibility if you want to become an automotive mechanic. If you have experience inspecting vehicles to be fit for the road, your customers will know that you are not someone who cuts corners and that your vehicle will get all the repairs it needs.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the vehicle inspector career is expected to shrink by 18% and lose 100,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

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3. Tow Truck Driver
   Average Annual Salary: $35,000

   If you’re looking for a path to the best jobs in the automotive industry, driving a tow truck can be a great place to start. Tow truck drivers are the first responders to a failed vehicle. Daily, they see how a delayed repair causes a car to fail. This gives them unique insight into car repairs, especially when it comes to prioritizing repairs.

   Furthermore, a tow truck driver learns about a car’s basic anatomy, including its weight distribution and how best to transport a broken-down vehicle. This can be useful information for future roles, whether that’s as an automotive technician or an industrial designer.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the tow truck driving career is expected to grow by 5% and produce 99,700 job opportunities across the U.S.

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4. Tire Technician
   Average Annual Salary: $42,000

   The easiest way to start a career as a mechanic is to start as a specialized repairman. Becoming familiar with one section of car repair, such as tires, can put you on the path toward becoming familiar with repairing the entire vehicle.

   Tire technicians are those who keep tires in top condition. They can install, replace, inspect, and rotate tires on a car as needed, and they are also able to recommend the best kind of tires for each vehicle.

   Once you become accustomed to tire maintenance and repair, you will be more prepared to take on the more complicated mechanics of car repair. In short, becoming a tire technician is a great place to start.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to shrink by 1% and lose 6,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

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5. Car Sales Representative
   Average Annual Salary: $29,000

   If you want to break into the more corporate side of car jobs that pay well, becoming a car salesperson can be a great way for you to gain the experience you will need. Knowing how to sell cars can put you on the track toward becoming a sales manager, a dealership owner, or a marketing professional.

   Selling cars is the most important aspect of being a car vendor, so sales are normally where employers look first when trying to find someone to fill a management or marketing position.

   Job Outlook: Between 2018 and 2028, the car sales representative career is expected to grow by 2% and produce 35,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

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Why work in an automotive career

If you’re interested in a career in the automotive industry, odds are you have some interest in cars or trucks. Luckily, an automotive career will allow you to combine an interest or hobby of yours with the opportunity to make a living.

There are many ways to work with cars. While there are the typical mechanic and technician jobs, you can also go into the more corporate side of cars: sales, marketing, design, advertisem*nt, and even accounting.

Finally, this career has relative job security. It seems that cars are not going anywhere any time soon, and as a result, there will always be a need for people who know how they work, as well as a need for people to sell and market them.

High-paying car jobs FAQ

1. What are the best degrees to work in the automotive industry?

   Associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in automotive engineering technology are the best degrees to work in the automotive industry. These degrees prepare you for a wide variety of car-related careers, including auto repair, sales, and research. Just note that you’ll probably need a four-year bachelor’s degree if you want to work in research and design.

   Mechanical engineering and industrial design degrees are also beneficial if you want to design cars.

2. What is the highest-paying job in the car industry?

   The highest-paying job in the car industry is a sales manager. However, industrial designers and vehicle inspectors also make high wages.

Final thoughts

An automotive career can be both an easy one to start, as well as a lucrative one. While some training may be required, usually it is training that can be completed relatively quickly and sometimes can be completed on the job.

If you are someone who enjoys working with cars, there are endless career options for you, and the above lists are just a few places to get you started.

No matter what, companies and employers are always looking for those who are passionate about what they will be doing, so combining a possible career with a hobby or interest of yours can be what sets you apart from the competition and can also be what makes your job more fun.