Top Careers in the Auto & Drifting Industry That Don’t Require Driving Skills

The automotive industry employs roughly 4.2 million people in the US alone, according to a 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. And, while the appeal of driving a racecar or being part of one of the top drifting teams lures many into working in the automotive industry, there are numerous other jobs that pay just as well for recent graduates that don’t require you to have driving skills. If you’re interested in working in the industry, you might consider jobs that involve designing, selling, manufacturing or repairing automobiles.

What to Know About Automotive Engineer Jobs

If you’re interested in automotives, even the drifting kind, then you’ll probably also love learning about designing and building cars as well. Why not take this knowledge and interest and apply it to a career as an automotive engineer. Automotive engineers design new cars and seek to improve current models in terms of safety, style, fuel efficiency and more. If you like puzzles, cars and making things go faster, then this might be the job for you, which is great because the demand for automotive engineers is growing by about 7% each year. Imagine being able to design a car that can go fast and meet a state’s fuel efficiency requirements.

The great thing about this field is that you really only need a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as mechanical engineering and excellent problem-solving skills. The average starting salary is roughly between $50,000 and $60,000 a year and increases as you gain experience. After 5 to 9 years of experience, you can expect make between $54,000 and $76,000 a year, which is great news for recent grads who are looking for an interesting career in automotives or drifting but must pay off student loans in a timely manner.

Engine Building As a Way to Enter the Lux Side of the Industry

If you love cars, fixing and building engines and working around cars in general, an engine building job might be perfect for you. This job is less on the technical side of design like an automotive engineer and more hands-on in the construction, assembly, or rebuilding of car parts such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment.

However, normal car factories require you to work in loud conditions. If you want a more slow-paced environment that offers a quiet and ordered atmosphere, work for an exotic car manufacturer. Take a look at the OCD wonderland at McLaren to get an idea of your working conditions. Not bad, right? If you’re just starting out and want to work on engines designed for spectator sports, you can expect to earn an average annual salary of $74,630 per year, but that will definitely be increased once you make it to the floor of an exotic car factory.

Putting Your Skills to Work

A passion for drifting and working around cars doesn’t have to lead you straight to driving. While it’s an exciting job, there are plenty of opportunities to put your love and knowledge of cars to work for you. Finding a job that allows you to pursue your passion while learning new, interesting things each day and also provide financial stability is easy in the automotive industry if you put in a little work.