Jobs You Can Only Get with an Automotive Technology Degree

Posted in #LetsBFRANK: The College Admissions Blog on June 1, 2020

This post was written by Nakia Hill

In this post, we explore the automotive field and the many job opportunities that a degree in automotive technology can offer.

More than ever, job security is on the minds of everyone nationwide. Now is the time to look closely at what brings us joy, and will drive us full force into our future. As technology advances in the automotive industry, it is crucial that professionals sharpen their skills and deepen their technical knowledge.

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology offers a variety of hands-on course options to prepare students for technical jobs in the automotive field. Students can earn an Associate of Science (AS) in Automotive Technology or they can accelerate their education with a Certificate of Proficiency in Automotive Technology, which can be completed in just one year. Our program is accredited by ASE Education Foundation (formerly the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation).

Automotive students are in high demand by industry professionals and many students work in the industry during their studies. Students have the opportunity to participate in paid internships or work for car dealerships, independent shops, manufacturers, fleet services, and automotive part distributors while they are students.

Several companies are so invested in training our students that they have partnered with the college to offer incentives designed to increase the pipeline of students going into automotive work. One such partnership is Village Automotive Group’s Work, Learn and Earn program, which provides students with part-time employment as well as generous student loan repayment opportunities.

Those on-the-job experiences as students translate into good-paying jobs after graduation. Our alums have been offered job opportunities with the MBTA, local dealerships, and national manufacturers such as General Motors, and Toyota, just to name a few.

In the college’s automotive garage, located in the heart of Boston’s South End neighborhood, students work with customers directly and get their hands dirty working on vehicles. Local residents, as well as college employees, are welcome to get their cars repaired by students who are being trained on how to diagnose, repair, and maintain all makes and models of gas, hybrid, and fully electric vehicles.

In addition to passion for the automotive field, you must develop the following skills to be successful in this industry:

Confidence
Rigor
Problem-solving ability
Excellent customer service skills
Be good with your hands and not afraid to get them dirty

Qualified auto technicians are in such short supply that automakers themselves have launched outreach campaigns to showcase the high-tech nature of today’s automobiles and the exciting career paths that the repair field offers.

Watch this video produced by Automotive News to learn more about these efforts.

Automotive Technology Careers

So, you’ve decided that the automotive industry is the job of your dreams. Let’s test drive a few career paths that you can consider.

Automotive Service Technician

If you’ve ever visited an auto repair shop, you have definitely come in contact with an auto technician or mechanic. Automotive service technicians can inspect, maintain, and repair your vehicle. This skilled individual has the ability to repair a vehicle’s air conditioner, tires, brakes, or even the transmission. As a technician, the computerized diagnostic tools will become your best friend to help you identify customers’ car problems upfront. You will also become increasingly handy as you learn to use auto mechanic equipment, including wrenches, welding torches, and jacks. A trained mechanic will know how to remedy almost any challenge affecting customers’ vehicles. The median annual salary for this job is $41,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Automotive Body and Glass Repairers

In the automotive technology industry, there are opportunities for you to get hyper focused on an area in the auto industry such as automotive body and glass repair. In this niche job, you’ll become an expert in restoring, refinishing, and replacing vehicle bodies and frames, windshields, and window glass. Sometimes mechanics will outsource niche jobs because body or glass repair is not an offering at their dealership or shop. Automotive body and glass repairers make a median of $41,000 annually, according to the BLS.

Automotive Sales and Management

From selling cars at a popular dealership to selling parts at retail shops, a career in sales is exciting and sure to get your adrenaline pumping. As a parts salesperson, you can make a median salary of $31,000 annually, according to the BLS. Becoming a car salesperson or a sales manager at a dealership can be more lucrative and is perfect for someone with an outgoing personality who loves and knows a lot about cars. Jobs selling cars for a dealership are based largely on commissions, so annual incomes vary widely, but the median annual salary for a sales manager in the U.S. is $124,220, according to the BLS.

Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians

Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians work closely with equipment used by farmers, construction workers, and transportation industry professionals. Who fixes buses and trains? That would be a management service technician. Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians make a median salary of $50,000 annually, according to the BLS.

Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Mechanical engineer technicians are innovators. They work behind the scenes to design and test mechanical and thermal devices found in vehicles. What does all of that mean? They may design batteries for cars or ensure heating and cooling systems are energy efficient. They also problem solve any technological challenges hindering the integration of sensors, controllers, and machinery for vehicles. Mechanical engineering technicians usually work in an office setting, so you won’t typically find them in an auto repair shop or dealership. They work closely with the makers of vehicles and are a huge component of the design of the car. Auto research engineers also focus on improving the performance of trucks and cars as they are technologically advanced.

Student Success Stories

Our alums have many success stories, including working for dealerships, maintaining commercial fleets, working in the electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle technology space, and starting their own independent auto shops or other vehicle-related businesses.

At Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, we are committed to creating opportunities for any student who wants to work toward a better future. And we promise to always provide the facts you need to make an informed decision about your education.