Designing, building, selling, racing, and fixing cars and trucks, including the fast-growing world of electric and self-driving vehicles.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
EV Battery Engineer: Designs and tests the battery cells and packs that power electric vehicles. Typical pay $125k.
Autonomous Vehicle Engineer: Builds the software and sensors that let cars and trucks drive themselves. Typical pay $160k.
Car Dealership General Manager: Runs a car dealership: sales, service, finance, used cars, and staff. Typical pay $180k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Automotive Engineer: Designs and tests the parts and systems of cars and trucks, from brakes and suspensions to electric motors. Typical pay $102k.
Automotive Designer: Sketches and shapes the look of new cars, inside and out. Typical pay $90k.
Automotive Clay Modeler: Sculpts full-size cars out of clay so designers and executives can see and touch a design before it's built. Typical pay $75k.
Motorsports Race Engineer: Engineers and tunes race cars for NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA, or Formula 1 teams. Typical pay $95k.
Pit Crew Member: Changes tires and fuels a race car in seconds during pit stops, often a former college athlete. Typical pay $90k.
Electric Vehicle Technician: Diagnoses and repairs electric and hybrid vehicles, including high-voltage battery and motor systems. Typical pay $60k.
Automotive Service Manager: Runs a dealership or shop's service department: technicians, advisors, scheduling, and profits. Typical pay $90k.
Auto Damage Appraiser: Inspects damaged vehicles after crashes and estimates repair costs for insurance companies. Typical pay $72k.
EV Charging Station Technician: Installs, repairs and updates public and home electric vehicle chargers for charging companies and electrical contractors. Typical pay $65k.
Vehicle Homologation Engineer: Proves new cars meet every safety and emissions law in each country where they will be sold. Typical pay $104k.
Automotive F&I Manager: Arranges loans, leases, and warranties for car buyers at a dealership. Typical pay $105k.
Mobile Mechanic: Drives a fully equipped van to customers' homes and offices to fix their cars on the spot. Typical pay $55k.
Race Car Fabricator: Builds race car frames, roll cages, and custom parts by cutting, bending, and welding metal. Typical pay $60k.
EV Conversion Specialist: Pulls the gas engine out of classic cars, trucks and boats and replaces it with electric motors and batteries. Typical pay $55k.
Car Salesperson: Helps customers choose, test drive, and buy new or used cars. Typical pay $50k.
Automotive Service Advisor: Talks with customers about their car problems, explains repairs, and keeps them updated. Typical pay $50k.
Vehicle Test Driver: Drives prototype and self-driving test vehicles on proving grounds and public roads to find problems. Typical pay $50k.
Classic Car Restorer: Brings old and classic cars back to original condition, from engines to chrome. Typical pay $50k.
Auto Glass Technician: Repairs chipped windshields and installs new auto glass, then recalibrates cameras mounted behind it. Typical pay $45k.
Car Detailer: Deep-cleans, polishes, and protects cars inside and out. Typical pay $36k.
RV Technician: Repairs motorhomes and campers, including engines, plumbing, electrical systems, and appliances. Typical pay $52k.
Mobile Electronics Installer: Installs car stereos, backup cameras, remote starters, and police or fleet electronics in vehicles. Typical pay $48k.
Car Rental Agent: Helps customers rent cars, explains insurance options, and checks vehicles in and out. Typical pay $41k.
Fuel Station Attendant: Pumps fuel for drivers at full-service stations or boats at marina fuel docks. Typical pay $36k.
Lease Return Vehicle Inspector: Inspects cars returned at the end of leases or sent to auctions, photographing and grading every scratch for buyers. Typical pay $42k.
Car Wash Attendant: Guides cars through a car wash, preps and dries them, and cleans interiors, often helping sell wash memberships. Typical pay $36k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.