Automotive Design Engineer Salary in Coloma, CA

How much does an Automotive Design Engineer make in Coloma, CA?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Automotive Design Engineer in Coloma, CA is $107,305 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,219
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,413 to $115,635
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,228

Key Factors That Influence Automotive Design Engineer Salaries

An Automotive Design 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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Automotive Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Automotive Design 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): $79,875
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,694
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,693
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $129,373
  • Expert (over 8 years): $152,521
Levels Salary
Tool Desi... Level Automotive Design Engineer$79,875
Tool Desi... Level Automotive Design Engineer$93,694
Automotiv... Level Automotive Design Engineer$106,693
Tool Desi... Level Automotive Design Engineer$129,373
Tool Desi... Level Automotive Design Engineer$152,521

Top Paying Cities for Automotive Design 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: $128,540
  • San Francisco: $127,133
  • Oakland: $124,454

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.61% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Architectural Drawing (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building (or building project) that falls within the definition of architecture.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.61%
Architectural Drawing 3.09%
Work Ethic 2.06%

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 Design Engineer's salary.

  • Customer Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Strategic Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Business Ethics: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Customer Communications $115,890
8%
Strategic Planning $115,890
8%
Business Ethics $113,743
6%

Automotive Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Automotive Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Automotive Design Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Automotive Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Automotive Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$139,497$67.030%
Financial Services$134,131$64.025%
Biotechnology$128,766$62.020%
Pharmaceuticals$128,766$62.020%
Energy & Utilities$123,401$59.015%

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

Understanding how an Automotive Design 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
$99,413
Average $107,305/year
$115,635
$8,284
Average $8,942/month
$9,636
$1,912
Average $2,064/week
$2,224
$48
Average $52/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $115,635 $9,636 $2,224 $56
Average $107,305 $8,942 $2,064 $52
25th Percentile $99,413 $8,284 $1,912 $48

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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