Automotive Engineering Technicians
Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
AI Impact Summary
Automotive Engineering Technicians faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 37% of all analyzed occupations. Of 18 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Automotive Engineering Technicians skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
18 tasks analyzed
Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed.
Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems.
Improve fuel efficiency by testing vehicles or components that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic.
Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.
Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts.
Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations.
Recommend tests or testing conditions in accordance with designs, customer requirements, or industry standards to ensure test validity.
Test performance of vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as alcohol blends, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biodiesel, nano diesel, or alternative power methods, such as solar energy or hydrogen fuel cells.
Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools. | 33.4Observed | 62.6% | 10% | |
| Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 10% | |
| Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts. | 48.27Observed | 68.5% | 5% | |
| Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 8% | |
| Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 8% | |
| Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 8% | |
| Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Improve fuel efficiency by testing vehicles or components that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Recommend tests or testing conditions in accordance with designs, customer requirements, or industry standards to ensure test validity. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Test performance of vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as alcohol blends, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biodiesel, nano diesel, or alternative power methods, such as solar energy or hydrogen fuel cells. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.1%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$68,730
per year
Mean Wage
$72,450
per year
Employment
37K
workers
Wage Range
$46,940 - $100,890
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Automotive Engineering Technicians professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Equipment Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change