Automotive Product Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Automotive Product Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Automotive Product Engineer in the United States is $73,840 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, an Automotive Product Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,975
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,195 to $81,239
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,413

Key Factors That Influence Automotive Product Engineer Salaries

An Automotive Product Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Automotive Product Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Automotive Product Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $74,509
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $100,681
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $122,558
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,735
  • Expert (over 8 years): $164,218
Levels Salary
Automotiv... Level Automotive Product Engineer$74,509
Database ... Level Automotive Product Engineer$100,681
Database ... Level Automotive Product Engineer$122,558
Database ... Level Automotive Product Engineer$140,735
Database ... Level Automotive Product Engineer$164,218

How Do Automotive Product Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Automotive Product Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $81,755.
  • California: $81,445.
  • Massachusetts: $80,360.

Top Paying Cities for Automotive Product Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $93,134
  • San Francisco: $92,114
  • Oakland: $90,173

What Skills Can Increase an Automotive Product Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.55% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 3.76% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Data Modeling (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Data modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model for an information system by applying certain formal techniques.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.55%
Computer Science 3.76%
Data Modeling 2.12%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Automotive Product Engineer's salary.

  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Data Warehousing: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Partnering $77,531
5%
Integrity $76,793
4%
Data Warehousing $76,793
4%

Automotive Product Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Automotive Product Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 113% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Automotive Product Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Automotive Product Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Automotive Product Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$103,375$50.040%
Software & Networking$99,683$48.035%
Financial Services$95,991$46.030%
Insurance$92,299$44.025%
Biotechnology$88,607$43.020%

Automotive Product Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Automotive Product Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$64,195
Average $73,840/year
$81,239
$5,350
Average $6,153/month
$6,770
$1,235
Average $1,420/week
$1,562
$31
Average $35/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $81,239 $6,770 $1,562 $39
Average $73,840 $6,153 $1,420 $35
25th Percentile $64,195 $5,350 $1,235 $31

Most common benefits for Automotive Product Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Automotive Product Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Automotive Product Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Automotive Product Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Automotive Product Engineer?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Automotive Product Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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