Auto Designer salary

Automotive designers earn more in some Eastern states.

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Automotive and car parts manufacturers depend on designers to create the interiors, exteriors and underbody parts of automobiles, including panels, engines, axles and electrical systems. Many use computer-aided design techniques to create virtual models of the automotive parts in which they specialize. They also test these parts for functionality and safety. Salaries for automotive designers vary, depending on experience and the state or district in which they work.

Salary Between $80, 000 and $85, 000

The average salary for an automotive designer was $84, 000 as of 2014, according to the job site Indeed. The minimum educational requirement for this job is a bachelor's degree in industrial design or mechanical engineering. Employers may prefer hiring those with one or more years of experience in automotive design, including any internships. Other important requirements include artistic ability, creativity and analytical, mechanical, problem-solving and computer skills.

Top Pay in New York and D.C.

In 2014, average annual salaries for automotive designers varied most significantly in the West region, according to Indeed, where they earned the highest salaries of $91, 000 in California and the lowest salaries of $54, 000 in Hawaii. Those in the Midwest made $62, 000 to $95, 000 per year in Nebraska and Illinois, respectively. Automotive designers averaged $72, 000 in Louisiana and $102, 000 in Washington, D.C., which were the lowest and highest salaries in the South. In the Northeast, they made the most in New York and the least in Maine - $102, 000 and $73, 000, respectively.