by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in High Performance & Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic involves the study of High Performance And Custom Engine Technician/mechanic. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Increase The Power Of Diesel And Automotive Engines; Enhance The Performance Of Automobiles; And Repair, Service, And Maintain High Performance Vehicles. Includes Instruction In Adding Performance Accessories; Modifying Powertrains; Tuning Custom Engines, Suspension, And Exhaust Systems; And Using Dynamometers And Other Diagnostic Equipment. Examples: [High Performance Powertrain Technician/mechanic], [Automotive High Performance Technician/mechanic]. Read on to learn the key facts every high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic programs.
Nationwide, high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic draws strong interest, with 470 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best High Performance & Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic programs later in this article.
Studies in High Performance & Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 106 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 278 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 86 |
People currently working in careers related to high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 35.1% |
| Some college courses | 10.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 168,346 | 6.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 110,130 | 1.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,744 |
| 4 years | $43,612 |
| 5 years | $49,558 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $85,639 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $40,917 |
With 11 different high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in high performance & custom engine technician/mechanic, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
