With so many Automotive Careers and opportunities to side-step to alternative jobs, the Automotive Industry is a Marketplace full of Job Opportunities.
Whether you are just starting out from School or University, looking for a promotion or pivoting into a new automotive career, the prospects are endless.
The Automotive Industry is a mass of organisations and companies with many overseas Car Companies setting up manufacturing plants in the UK because of the vast experience and infrastructure available – in 2020, 864,000 people in the UK were employed in the Automotive industry.
Let us take you on a tour of the Automotive Industry possibilities:
- Highest Paying Jobs
- Entry level jobs
- Recently created Job roles
- Best jobs to side-step to
Highest Paying Jobs in the Automotive Industry
The rise in the cost of living has prompted people to Imagine a fresh start, a blank canvas on which you could paint any Automotive Career Path – you choose the Automotive industry because of the opportunities but which Direction will you take?
The average Salary in the Automotive Industry is £42,500 – obviously, there are as many high-paid Qualified jobs as low-paid unqualified jobs but that’s a great incentive to start.
At Holt Automotive Recruitment we have Jobs ranging from Sales Executives (£18,000) and Tyre Fitters (£23,000 basic) to Bodyshop Manager (£60K + Bonus), Paint Sprayer (£55,000 + Bonus) and MET Technician at £50, 000 + Bonus) – these salaries will depend on where you are in the country too with London, South West and South East being the better paid.
Many of the highest-paid jobs are Automotive Management Roles which will only be open to those with previous management experience so you may have to aim a bit lower to start with. The alternatives are skilled roles:
Automotive Engineer
Up to £50,000 – Automotive engineers design, develop, test and build cars. You’ll need good maths skills and will need to undertake a University or College course.
Experienced Vehicle Technician
Also know as Motor Mechanics – repair and service cars and vans. Prestige brands will pay up to £55,000 for an experience Vehicle Technician.
Motor Vehicle Breakdown Engineer (Roadside)
Up to £45,000. Motor vehicle breakdown engineers help people whose vehicles have broken down.
Motorsport Engineer
Up to £60,000. Motorsport engineers design, build and test racing cars and bikes with plenty of opportunities in the Electric Car industry.
FIND LIVE AUTOMOTIVE JOBS IN YOUR AREA HERE
Best Entry-Level Jobs in the Automotive Industry
Vehicle body Repairer
£19,000 start. Vehicle body repairers mend damaged vehicle parts and bodywork using metalworking and finishing techniques. Anyone with attention to detail who can use basic tools can become a Vehicle Body Repairer.
With experience, this role can lead to better-paid jobs at Insurance Workshops and Vehicle Damage Assessors.
Motor Vehicle Fitter
£17,000 start. Motor vehicle fitters repair and replace worn or damaged tyres, exhausts, batteries and parts. A College course or an apprenticeship is enough to get you going on the Automotive career path. Automotive Career progression includes prestige Motor Companies and Damage Repair Assessors.
Paint Sprayer
£19,000 start. Paint sprayers apply coatings and protective finishes to cars, vans, motorbikes and other vehicles. You can get started with a college course or an apprenticeship or by applying directly to Companies. No experience is generally required but you can get a head start with a Level 1 Diploma in Accident Repair Paint or a Level 2 Diploma in Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles.
Consider training to IMI award ATA Accreditation to help with career progression.
Newly created Job in the Automotive Industry
Artificial Intelligence
AI is used throughout the Motor Industry and as AI is still evolving there is no shortage of opportunities for University Graduates. AI is used for everything from Vehicle Design (think aerodynamics) to self-driving vehicle software.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fast-emerging industry, and even though it focuses on automated services, from AI virtual assistants such as Voice Search to email spam filters, human engineers are still required to design and maintain these systems.
As the industry continues to grow, the higher the demand will be for people to fill these roles. Exciting developments in this up-and-coming field include the likes of self-driving cars and facial recognition technology for paying at a store. AI pros can make a lot of money, especially if they assist in the creation of brand-new AI products.
Robotics technicians
Robots are an excellent tool for automating welding processes in car production, as robots can both perform the actual welding whilst handling the relevant parts. Common uses include arc welding and resistance spot welding, with arc welding accounting for roughly 20% of all industrial robotic applications.
Robots need regular Software and Hardware maintenance and this is a specialised role, it is well paid – training as an embedded software Engineer is a good place to start.
Electric Car Conversion Technician
Electric cars are still an expensive option and due to a shortage of parts, the lead times on some EVs is as long as a year! This queue can be cut but converting a petrol car into electric.
The basic process for converting a car to electric power involves removing the combustion engine, along with the gearbox, exhaust, and various other components. These are then replaced with batteries and one or more electric motors.
However, the reality is that you will need specialist mechanical and high-voltage electrical knowledge, as well as plenty of spare time.
Electric Car Technician
As Electric Vehicles start to take over the roads, mechanics trained in this new electric technology are needed too. Despite a similar job title, up to 97% of classically-trained mechanics aren’t qualified to switch to working on electric cars because of the specialist knowledge it requires.
Apprenticeships and University Courses are becoming available. At the forefront of electric vehicle technology is the world’s most valuable automaker, Tesla which now runs its own Tesla Start Education Programme to train a new generation of technicians.
As Tesla hasn’t started building in the UK yet, it might be the perfect time to train and be the first on the bus to the next UK Gigafactory.
Best Jobs in the Automotive Industry to Pivot Into
After a while working in the Automotive Industry most working professionals start considering a new role, the automatic process would be to consider the next step up in the career ladder for progression, but this isn’t always the case and doesn’t have to be the only route.
One way to avoid side-stepping Automotive Careers is to have a clear career plan – there can be a great benefit to your Automotive Career in the long term when you consider other paths.
Auto Electricians
There are always jobs but they are very difficult to come by. Auto electricians diagnose and repair electrical faults or replace components in motor vehicles, and fit new electrical and electronic parts and accessories.
Most modern vehicles rely on a wide range of electrical and electronic systems, controlling most aspects of the vehicle’s performance so the demand for this role will never go away.
Coach Builders
A coachbuilder or body-maker is someone who manufactures bodies for passenger-carrying vehicles. Coachwork is the body of a Coach, an automobile, a bus, or a railway carriage. Look at HGV positions.
Experience in the Automotive Trade will be beneficial if you are considering side-stepping into Coachbuilding.
Auto Body Repair Technician
If you have Mechanic experience, consider pivoting to Auto Body Repair. Automotive Body Repair Technicians need to use their initiative to help repair and maintain machines and tools. The individual will need to carry out repairs and replace damaged bodywork on all types of vehicles. Assessing and evaluating repair work, making and mending panels with the ability to weld.
