Jobs Similar to Automotive Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to automotive engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Aerospace Engineers, Wind Energy Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
Automotive Engineers: $104,110 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Automotive Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 84% | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 83% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 83% | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Materials EngineersSame group | 82% | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 81% | $106,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Materials Scientists | 81% | $117,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 80% | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 80% | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 80% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 80% | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Mechanical Drafters | 80% | $71,550 | Training or associate |
| 14 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 79% | $98,590 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Validation EngineersSame group | 79% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 79% | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Fuel Cell EngineersSame group | 78% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $64,950 | Training or associate |
- 1Aerospace Engineers
84% similar · $134,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Wind Energy Engineers
83% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Chemical Engineers
83% similar · $125,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Materials Engineers
82% similar · $112,860 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Mechatronics Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
81% similar · $106,220 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Materials Scientists
81% similar · $117,790 · Bachelor's degree
- 8Mechanical Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Microsystems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Nuclear Engineers
80% similar · $133,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Water/Wastewater Engineers
80% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Electrical Engineers
80% similar · $120,630 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Mechanical Drafters
80% similar · $71,550 · Training or associate
- 14Agricultural Engineers
79% similar · $98,590 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Validation Engineers
79% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Industrial Engineers
79% similar · $102,440 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Nanosystems Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Fuel Cell Engineers
78% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $64,950 · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for automotive engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where automotive engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Materials Scientists (80)
- Logistics Engineers (79)
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (76)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (75)
- Mechanical Drafters (75)
- Hydrologists (74)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (73)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (73)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (72)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (72)
Questions about jobs like automotive engineers
What jobs are most similar to automotive engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Aerospace Engineers (84% similar), Wind Energy Engineers (83% similar), Chemical Engineers (83% similar), Materials Engineers (82% similar) and Mechatronics Engineers (81% similar).
Do jobs like automotive engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than automotive engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.